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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Canada Says Facebook Breaks Privacy Laws

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(Newser) – Facebook suffers from "serious privacy gaps" and must become more transparent about how personal information is handled to comply with the law, says a government watchdog in Canada. The report by the country's privacy commissioner marks the first time a government has found Facebook to be acting illegally, reports the Financial Times. The commissioner's top concern: third-party applications that can access users' personal information without their knowledge.

The report also cites Facebook for retaining users' information after they delete their accounts and for archiving e-mail addresses of people invited to join by friends who later decline. Facebook has 30 days to make the suggested changes, or else the commissioner can take them to court. Canada has 12 million Facebook users—more than one in every three citizens has a profile.

Canada's privacy commissioner says Facebook breaches Canadian law by keeping users personal information indefinitely after members close their accounts.
Canada's privacy commissioner says Facebook breaches Canadian law by keeping users personal information indefinitely after members close their accounts.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart speaks during a news conference in Ottawa yesterday, following the release of a report looking into Facebook's privacy practices.
Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart speaks during a news conference in Ottawa yesterday, following the release of a report looking into Facebook's privacy practices.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Sean Kilpatrick)
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Facebook has to be more transparent about telling people what they do with their personal information, how long they keep it, and who is able to use it. - Privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart.

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Nwambe
Jul 17, 09 8:55 AM CDT
Flash in the pan crap. This is what they're spending my tax dollars on? Prosecuting Facebook?!?! For the love of God, what about insurance and cellphone companies? Credit card companies? Bad marketing practices and cookie-trailing on websites, and THIS is the best that Stoddart can come up with? Christ, and to think I pay for these biscuit-arsed shenanigans. Reply
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Yourself
Jul 17, 09 10:01 AM CDT
stop being foolish, they go after insurance companies and banking companies just as harshly, sadly the news doesn't report it cause it's considered "boring". It's nice to know that at least ONE government agency is seeing the flaws with facebook, it is indeed a MAJOR privacy problem that will only lead to worse ideas and worse policies by websites. reading this makes me proud to hear that the Canadian government is looking into it. Yet another reason for me to want to move back home
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Nwambe
Jul 17, 09 10:50 AM CDT
The Conservative government has repeatedly stepped over consumers, and attempting to cover the dismal track record with a sudden and blaring announcement about going after Facebook is just pandering, in my opinion, though calling me foolish certainly doesn't help enlightened debate. Reply
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Mad
Jul 17, 09 5:27 PM CDT
From the outside looking in, it seems to me that Canada openly loves and respects her citizens, whereas until recently I wasn't sure if America did Reply
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zr1556
Jul 17, 09 7:49 PM CDT
Of course, the canadians get it right, faster. Reply
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