Paper on privacy impact of Orkut, Friendster, Plaxo, etc. [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[If you are on Orkut, feel free to join the Politech community. --Declan]

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Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 18:18:34 +1100
From: Roger Clarke <Roger.Clarke () xamax com au>

G'day again Glitterati

I expressed concerns a couple of days ago about Plaxo.  I've now flung 
together a draft privacy analysis of address-book and social networking 
services (SNS) generally, with particular reference to Plaxo.

As always, I'd appreciate constructively negative criticism, particularly 
if I'm being unfair to anyone.

If you know other people with background on the topic, or if you're plugged 
into e-lists whose subscribers would be interested in the paper, or could 
help improve the analysis, feel free to pass this message onwards.

Regards  ...  Roger


                    Very Black Little Black Books
      http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/DV/ContactPITs.html

                  First-Cut Draft of 2 February 2004

                              Abstract

Technology and human ingenuity continue to pose new privacy challenges. 
During 2003, a new dot.com fashion arose from an odd amalgam of Rolodex 
address-books, e-communities and dating. Users of these services store 
personal data on a central server, which can be accessed by other people, 
and, potentially at least, exploited by the service-operator. There are 
privacy concerns, of a kind that has been analysed many times before.

The new dimension that these services bring is that they entice users to 
disclose personal data about their friends, business contacts or 
acquaintances. That is a disturbing feature, and it requires careful analysis.

--
Roger Clarke              http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
                        
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke () xamax com au            http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, U.N.S.W
Visiting Fellow in Computer Science, Australian National University

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