Re:Facebook Buying WhatsApp for $16B in Cash and Stock Plus ...
by lucb1e on Thursday February 20, 2014 @01:28AM
(#7269241)
Exactly my thoughts. Any idea how to get out of Facebook's database? I'd be willing to pay but then they have my full name instead of just a fake and my phone number.
Re:Facebook Buying WhatsApp for $16B in Cash and Stock Plus ...
by junto on Thursday February 20, 2014 @03:18AM
(#7269614)
I'm in the same position. I deleted my Facebook account last year and now it feels like they have rejoined me without asking me. Damn it.
Re:Facebook Buying WhatsApp for $16B in Cash and Stock Plus ...
by notlisted on Thursday February 20, 2014 @09:33AM
(#7270880)
No clue. I'm actually inclined to start a petition to stop this deal. Too much information in the hands of one company if you ask me.
Note: as a self-described Google fanboy, I do realize that Google has all this and more of me as well, but at least they provide many useful services, haven't changed the privacy rules on me, allow data export, and keep the data to themselves.
Re:Facebook Buying WhatsApp for $16B in Cash and Stock Plus ...
by jhonkola on Friday February 21, 2014 @02:26AM
(#7275826)
This was also my first thought. FB gets a lot of information on people's actual behavior wrt their contacts (who do you contact and how often), and this for people all over the world.
WhatsApp's convenient 'matching by phone number' feature uploads of all of your phone contacts to their servers. Though positioned as one of the good guys, they too had their price.
With this acquisition, FB bought the ultimate data set of users and leads, and with it secured access to the last remnants of your privacy.
Your fake name/profile on FB will no longer protect you. Your friend's contact list spilled the beans months ago...
Uninstalling WhatsApp now, though I realize that after several lovely years might just be too late already.
Cat, bag, out of. Such wow. Much sad.