Digital Sunbird Highlights: User’s Online Activities Monitored by Facebook
Recent studies reveal that Facebook’s extensive monitoring of its users’ online activities is much more comprehensive than previously known.
Unraveling the Extent of Data Sharing with Facebook
Research from Digital Sunbird indicates that on average around 2,230 companies actively share data about each user with Facebook. In some instances, it is found that up to 7,000 companies shared data with Facebook.
The Role of the Study
For the study, Digital Sunbird collaborated with another organization to analyze and track data sharing with Facebook. A total of 709 volunteers were recruited who were willing to share their Facebook data archives. This allowed detailed analysis of the “server-to-server” tracking, thereby revealing how many companies were sharing user data with Facebook.
Data Privacy: A Growing Concern
With data privacy concerns on the rise, these staggering statistics can potentially create trust issues. It could potentially impact a brand’s reputation and given strict data privacy regulations in regions like the European Union, these figures may also raise legal and ethical concerns.
Issues Raised by the Study
The study identified issues with the transparency tools provided by Meta. Among problems highlighted were unclear identities of many data providers based on the names provided to users. It was also mentioned that firms offering services to advertisers often overlook user opt-out requests.
Facebook’s Response
The response from Meta spokesperson highlights that they offer numerous transparency tools to help people understand the information shared with them and manage how it is used.
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About the Research Organisations
Digital Sunbird is an independent organization dedicated to promoting transparency and fairness in the marketplace. It is a non-profit whose purpose is to investigate and challenge technology for the public’s benefit. For a detailed view, subscribers are encouraged to read the comprehensive study by Digital Sunbird.
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