Facebook defends tracking of nonmembers as security measure
Citing security reasons, Facebook expects to continue monitoring Web pages that nonmembers and members visit after signing off, despite concerns raised by lawmakers Wednesday following reports of persistent tracking of personal information.
The social networking service deposits cookies -- files that transmit browser information -- on the computers of members and nonmembers to "help keep people's accounts safe and secure," spokesman Andrew Noyes said. A USA Today article revealed that the firm, already under government scrutiny for privacy violations, "keeps close track" of where millions of people go after they visit a Facebook page for any reason.
"If Facebook or any other company is falsely leading people to believe that they can log out of the site and not be tracked, that is alarming," said Sen. John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "I take a hard line on protecting consumer privacy and intend to have a hearing on this subject, where we will invite Facebook and others to explain how they are using personal information."
Rockefeller in recent months has written several letters to Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission questioning the company's policies on protecting children, using facial recognition technology and tracing members' locations.
In responding to Rockefeller's latest concerns, Facebook officials said their tracking methods have always been public.
"We have made these practices clear in our privacy policy and help center since the launch of social plug-ins," Noyes said. "We appreciate Sen. Rockefeller's interest in protecting consumer privacy and look forward to discussing this with him."
Cookies on logged off users' computers help the company identify hackers who are trying to access member accounts or trick members into divulging personal information, Facebook officials said. The cookies are activated any time an Internet user visits a site displaying a Facebook "Like" button or other social plug-in. According to USA Today, the files tell Facebook the date, time and Web address of the site, as well as the network location -- or IP address, browser and the user's computer operating system.
Facebook officials said the cookies keep tabs on how many people are using the social plugins so as to improve the social networking site's services. The company does not use the files for targeted advertising or sell the information, officials added.