How Facebook uses "opt-out" to manipulate users

If that sounds one-sided to you, you're right.

Facebook has signed you up for data-sharing for their own profit without first asking your permission. Granted, they have provided a way to wriggle off their hook (although the convoluted processes for doing so have been described by the Electronic Frontier Foundation as "evil interfaces".). But meanwhile, they have denied you the right to make that decision yourself before they can go about sharing your personal data.

Opt-out has been used for years by many online services to boost the number of recipients (paying or non-paying) for unsolicited products or services. Marketers understand that if they were considerate of consumers and let them "opt in" (that is, ask their consent before signing them up for something), they'd have far fewer participants to begin with, and it would take a lot of time and money to acquire many of them.

That's great for markets, but not so good for consumers, especially when what you're being signed up for isn't merely a product or service (which can, presumably, be discontinued or even returned for a refund), but an intrusion into your privacy.

It's not pleasant to tell people bluntly that you're usurping their right of prior consent. So some companies try to sanitize the act by making it sound like they are actually doing the opposite. The result can be downright Orwellian. Take, for example, this excerpt from a privacy notice my family recently received from Verizon Wireless, which stated that "The Federal Communications Commission requires your consent" for them to share our proprietary information (which they refer to as "CPNI") with affiliates:

Q4: How do I give my consent to share CPNI?

Unless you provide us with notice that you wish to opt out within 45 days of receiving this letter, we will assume that you give us the right to share your CPNI.

That's not an answer to the question, that's doublespeak for "we're not asking you for your consent."

And so it goes with any company, including Facebook, that doesn't respect consumers enough to ask them for their permission. That why we think Facebook users need greater protection than they get now.

For free tips on how to protect your privacy on Facebook, see 7 things to stop doing now on Facebook for more on the risks of using social networks like Facebook and MySpace, see our report, Social Insecurity.

Weigh in below with your own views on opt-in and opt-out.

—Jeff Fox

—Jeffrey Fox