The ‘Responsible use of data’ report, released today (28 November) claims that users may not be aware of how personal data is used by social media sites because they are too complex and lengthy. Facebook’s current terms and conditions do not demonstrate that users have given informed consent for some of the ways that companies are now exploiting data, according to the government body.
Although a range of social media platforms were mentioned in the report, Facebook’s research experiment that manipulated users’ moods was used as an example of how the group may be exploiting customer ignorance.
In July, Facebook was investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office amid concerns of a breach of data laws after the social network conducted a psychology experiment on nearly 70,000 users without their knowledge.
As with the Lee Rigby case, it called Facebook’s ethical repute into question. Yet, on both occasions the YouGov brand index showed the brand to be unscathed despite the outcry surrounding it.
Andrew Miller MP, chair of the Science and Technology committee, says: “Facebook’s experiment with users emotions highlighted serious concerns about the extent to which, ticking the terms and conditions box, can be said to constitute informed consent when it comes to the varied ways data is now being used by many websites and apps.
He adds that he hopes most social media developers “will be happy” to sign up to new guidelines on clear communication and informed consent and that he is asking Government to begin work on them.
Reputational damage
Concerns over how Facebook uses data was cited as the main reason why 26 per cent of people who have left the social network over the past year did so, according to YouGov’s ‘Social Media 2014’ report. It claims that around 9% of UK Facebook users have stopped using the service over the past year.
Facebook declined to comment on the actions it will take following the committee’s report.
The platform has just updated its privacy setting, showing a simplified version of its policies. The committee report’s witnesses provided their information in July.
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