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A comment on Facebook has sent a cease-and-desist letter to researchers.

Re:Facebook has sent a cease-and-desist letter to researchers by rolph on Tuesday October 27, 2020 @01:37PM (#24909782)
FB claims automated data collection, the data is apparently input to the app by a user , i think the hairs will be split between copy paste mechaniics, or ten finger entry in response to prompt, thus massaging the definition of automated entry.

(1)FB has consistently refused to publish anything about how the ads are targeted.

(2)The NYU researchers have tried to fill that gap, offering the Ad Observer plug-in to users who want to voluntarily donate the ads they see — along with the limited targeting data FB displays to users.

(3)Here’s where things get troubling: Facebook is now trying to shut down the Ad Observer plug-in, saying that it violates Facebook’s terms of service by automating the collection of data that Facebook shows to its users.

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Re:Facebook has sent a cease-and-desist letter to researchers by tim333 on Tuesday October 27, 2020 @06:14PM (#24912619)
Though presumably the Ad Observer plug-in didn't sign up to Facebook's terms of service. If anyone's violating their terms it's probably the users who install the plug-in.
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Re:Facebook has sent a cease-and-desist letter to researchers by punitxsmart on Wednesday October 28, 2020 @04:57PM (#24924062)
Why would the AdObserver plugin (completely independent piece of software installed by the user) need to follow facebook's Terms of Service?
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