| The question is whether all the data that is collected from online consumers is actually required in order to fulfill the ever-growing number of online transactions. What data is needed to purchase a product or subscribe to a paid service? Perhaps name, billing address, payment details, etc. Any data collected above and beyond that minimum may be rightfully questioned and might reasonably be considered "optional". Facebook's data policy has now increased from something like 2700 words to 4200 words.[1] Putting aside the question of whether this makes it more or less digestible by users, some are saying the new policy may make more clear what data Facebook is collecting. However the question remains: Why are they collecting it? This is perhaps the fundamental question and one that underlies the GDPR. With respect to each item of user data: Is it neccessary to collect it in order to provide the product or service. Is there a minimum amount of data that must be collected? Is the amount of user data that Facebook is collecting above that minimum? Facebook is clearly a business. It is selling a service. There are paying customers. However there is a question whether users are actually the "customers". Is the relationship between Facebook and users a commercial one? How does one quantify the "price" that users pay. What are the users affirmative obligations under the agreement? What is the user's end of the bargain. An agreement to allow herself to be studied? What is Facebook's end of the bargain? Does it have any affirmative obligations regarding service? What happens if Facebook fails to perform their end of the bargain? How is the value of the service quantified? Does this arrangement at times seem tantamount to users agreeing to take part in an elaborate, ongoing "marketing survey", where their behaviour online will be recorded, observed and analysed? Does this make the user agreement different from a traditional commercial transaction? Is the relationship between Facebook and advertisers more like a traditional commercial transaction? What data does Facebook collect about its customers, advertisers? Is it only the minimum needed to provide the service? Is joining Facebook the modern equivalent of taking part in Nielson ratings, agreeing to have a monitoring device attached to ones television recording ones viewing habits. 1. https://gizmodo.com/weekend-long-reads-facebooks-new-data-po... |