Facebook is Mass Surveillance, Says Free Software Founder
Richard Stallman, founder of the GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation, remains the most outspoken public personality against "non-free" software and recently lashed out against commercial software services that restrict "freedom".
In an interview with RT, Stallman described Facebook as a "mass surveillance" service. He is quoted saying that "if there is a ‘like’ button in a page, Facebook knows who visited that page. And it can get IP address of the computer visiting the page even if the person is not a Facebook user. So you visit several pages that have ‘like’ button and Facebook knows that you visited all of those, even if it doesn’t really know who you are.”
In the same interview, he compared hacker attacks of the Anonymous to traditional protests on the street and therefore "basically legitimate." Stallman also took a swing at mobile phone operating systems, which are, from the view of the FSF, also questionable. "Those mobile phones are being run by non-free software, so it’s no surprise that they have malicious features in them.” In this specific case, Stallman was responding to a question targeting the Carrier IQ software.
Stallman's views on software and technology are most of the time rather controversial, not just when he carelessly comments on events. In RT's interview, he also refers to "an unauthorized copy" software as being "almost as nasty as an authorized copy of the same program." The reason? Because an a software developer gets paid for an authorized copy and can, as a result, create more commercial, non-free software. In the end, Stallman said, the goal of "freedom" requires a user "to get rid of them both, because they both control you.”
To highlight the evil of non-free software, he noted that he would never accept a million dollars in exchange for having to use an authorized software copy - and would only take the money if he could throw away the software immediately.
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Yes, this is the Theory i have been supporting for years, Facebook is a P.O.S (even tho I have no choice but to use it occasionally, hypocritical eh?). It hurts me to see so many people's only prerogative is facebonk on the internet. Not me, FOREVER ALONE, /tear
Its tool ate now that we're all addicted to facebook. Windows is the same, Linux may be a hundred times better, but I've never felt that ease or comfort with ubuntu or Fedora like i have with Windows- of course, it may just be a matter of taste.
What's scary about social media in general is that personal information about you, that normally would be difficult for others to obtain, is now freely given because "everyone else is doing it too". I don't think George Orwell would have predicted this.
Never used Farcebook, never will. All these data mining sites are garbage.
+1 for the greybeards.
I agree with his ideas, in general; however, he needs to put these in a more organized way, work a bit on his grammar, and do something about that look, 'cause...damn.
He must work on his credibility on every aspect, not only on his ideology. This is an audio-visual era we live in, for crying out loud.
I thought that was obvious given the ''Patriot'' Act...
I have no account.
''So you visit several pages that have ‘like’ button and Facebook knows that you visited all of those,''
Nope, my NoScript doesnt allow it.
I have an account but visit the site maybe once every 2 months. I personally can't stand the site & only joined to keep in touch with a couple friends who I don't see hardly ever. So many people addicted to FB, it's disturbing to me. I prefer my life to be more private, so I stay away as much as I can. I have to tend to agree with this man's ideas though, even if he's related to Grizzly Adams.
Grizzly Adams.
Showing your age.
He does not look too good for sure, but he still lives on a very limited income, almost like a student.
With no money, you can't look like Donald Trump!
Showing your age.
Haha did you have to Google the name?
Showing your age.
Okay, how about Hagrid?
facebook is bad real bad.. it is the cause of many bad relationships.. and the ammount of malware (facebook games) on it is unreal... but my biggest gripe with facebook is how children use it and are encouraged to use it.. it might aswell be called havesexwithmy13yearolddaughter.com because how many young girls put sugestive self pics on there and have 10,000 friends with most of them probabily trying to groom them.. it is something i would not allow my children to use at all.. as facebook to me is just a free dating website..
What's scary about social media in general is that personal information about you, that normally would be difficult for others to obtain, is now freely given because "everyone else is doing it too". I don't think George Orwell would have predicted this.
The real scary thing is that the general public don't seem to care about being under 24/7 surveillance, when i discuss these subjects with my friends and family they all see me as a nutter for raising the issue. That you are filmed everywhere you go isn't a problem when you don't do anything bad, they seem to think that cameras everywhere prevent crime, i don't think that. When in a few years a research project find out that cameras don't prevent crimes and suggest that everyone have a body monitor with gps tracker operated into your body( some people actually have them already ), then for sure all crimes will be solved and hence crime rates are reduced. People will think that this is a good thing, when subversive and dangerous people like myself are arrested for speaking our minds, thats a good thing, when you love the wrong person you get arrested( a man may do the real bad thing as to fall in love with another man ) this is a good thing( newsflash: most countries frown upon gay people ). With a gps tracker you can not be gay, have different political views or be friends with people the government find subversive ( like Muslims ), the world do have a bright future.
Can't blame Facebook, the same arguements have been given all the way back through Myspace, ICQ, etc etc etc, some people use Facebook the same way like a streaker running through Times Square. If they are stupid enough to put their whole life unedited up for public view then they deserve everything they get.
I agree with his ideas, in general; however, he needs to put these in a more organized way, work a bit on his grammar, and do something about that look, 'cause...damn.He must work on his credibility on every aspect, not only on his ideology. This is an audio-visual era we live in, for crying out loud.
He more than likely suffers from some sort of autistic spectrum disorder. He simply doesn't care about his appearance, and probably doesn't much care what other people thinks of him. He speaks about his beliefs just as rigorously as any religious nut. Not saying he's wrong, here, as I happen to suffer from Asperger's myself, I'm a little sensitive to the views of people who think people should change fairly insignificant things in order to be better heard.
I agree that most software should be free. Indeed, there is quite a bit of it. I just also believe that if a person wishes to sell his hard work, he should be able to. I don't like Linux's ideals. In order for wide adoption it needs to be much simpler, and it should be as idiot proof as Windows and OSX are.
There can always be those who use the innards of the OS to do what they do now, but it needs to have some radical changes first. I have seen those changes occurring very slowly in the last decade, so it's getting on the right path, it's just not there yet.
I have no fear of a website knowing which IP addresses visited, simply because that information is completely worthless by itself. Now, if you happen to use Facebook, then it can know which other websites you've visited because of your IP address having changed little. That's a concern... but only a little one. It's not like they can use that information to harm you. They may be able to better advertise at you, though. That's actually a benefit. You might actually want to buy what they sell you, if they happen to be very good at it.
Then again, there are those who don't want any one to know who they are online, and certainly don't want their movements tracked. Well, there are various ways to avoid detection, and those people should learn how to use them. I am not concerned.
We are not addicted to facebook, we are addicted to battle tetris... Lol.
Haha did you have to Google the name?
Nope watched it when it was released. Loved that show.
He looks like a prisoner, but he's right!
I absolutely do not disagree, but this is not news, more like stating the obvious.
Did Tom's remove the facebook "like" button as a result of this article? I notice it isn't at the top of the article with the other social networks anymore.
''So you visit several pages that have ‘like’ button and Facebook knows that you visited all of those,''Nope, my NoScript doesnt allow it.
AdBlockPlus also blocks facebook, and many other, pieces of crap.
Haha did you have to Google the name?
i didnt know what it was a showing yout age comment, so i googled it, its more recent than i thought.
The real scary thing is that the general public don't seem to care about being under 24/7 surveillance, when i discuss these subjects with my friends and family they all see me as a nutter for raising the issue. That you are filmed everywhere you go isn't a problem when you don't do anything bad, they seem to think that cameras everywhere prevent crime, i don't think that. When in a few years a research project find out that cameras don't prevent crimes and suggest that everyone have a body monitor with gps tracker operated into your body( some people actually have them already ), then for sure all crimes will be solved and hence crime rates are reduced. People will think that this is a good thing, when subversive and dangerous people like myself are arrested for speaking our minds, thats a good thing, when you love the wrong person you get arrested( a man may do the real bad thing as to fall in love with another man ) this is a good thing( newsflash: most countries frown upon gay people ). With a gps tracker you can not be gay, have different political views or be friends with people the government find subversive ( like Muslims ), the world do have a bright future.
in general you are parinoid. as they have no way of sifting all the data they collect, and most if not all cameras are used as an after the fact type of deal.
if we do get gps trackers, it will be for dementia, Alzheimer patients, and small children, and possibly former inmates. if they force general public to get one, i want it in my left butt cheek so they can track every thrust.
and as for online tracking... i dont care, so long as they realize that any truly horrific site i find isnt because i was looking, but because i got sent an innocent looking link that takes me to a shock site, or worse thanks to 4chan.
I always had a problem with people being prosecuted for ddos attacks... How they work is a ton of people go to a website and use its resources and only if a large enough number of people are protesting does it effect the performance of the website from servicing legitimate customers. Seems very similar to protesting outside of a brick and mortar store.
Word.
I agree with his ideas, in general; however, he needs to put these in a more organized way, work a bit on his grammar, and do something about that look, 'cause...damn.He must work on his credibility on every aspect, not only on his ideology. This is an audio-visual era we live in, for crying out loud.
If people are willing to judge his message simply on his looks than they are helpless to begin with.
in general you are parinoid. as they have no way of sifting all the data they collect, and most if not all cameras are used as an after the fact type of deal. if we do get gps trackers, it will be for dementia, Alzheimer patients, and small children, and possibly former inmates. if they force general public to get one, i want it in my left butt cheek so they can track every thrust. and as for online tracking... i dont care, so long as they realize that any truly horrific site i find isnt because i was looking, but because i got sent an innocent looking link that takes me to a shock site, or worse thanks to 4chan.
I think you have the completely wrong attitude here. People can't say they don't care about their privacy because they have nothing to hide, that is just silly. It isn't about hiding anything... it is about your right to privacy. You have a RIGHT, not a privilege. You are not more secure or safe because of it. We all get subjected to ridiculous scans and gropings at the airport.... to protect us from terrorism. We are willing terrorized by our own government to protect us from what? Seriously, how stupid do you have to be to really be worried about terrorists killing you? Answer: extremely stupid. It isn't paranoia to question the government or it's motives, it is your duty as an American. It is your duty as a free, rational human being.
It doesn't matter what you do anywhere on the internet... your IP is there, even through a proxy(although it will take a longer amount of time to get ur IP, but a warrant on ur Proxy/ISP provider can and will provide the IP)
Remember, the gov' particularly the FBI/CIA, can, and will find ur IP.....
"He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither" how true so long ago.
It doesn't matter what you do anywhere on the internet... your IP is there, even through a proxy(although it will take a longer amount of time to get ur IP, but a warrant on ur Proxy/ISP provider can and will provide the IP)Remember, the gov' particularly the FBI/CIA, can, and will find ur IP.....
Besides, 995 of the net population doesn't even know what a proxy or a MAC address is.
I see it with clients all the time; they have no idea when it comes to privacy etc.
Most think that calling yourself hotstuff349 will guarantee that nobody can track/find you.
it's a question of education people; and the industry has obviously no interest in telling!