‘It has to go away’: Facebook director calls for an end to internet anonymity
July 28, 2011 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:04 PM on 27th July 2011
Facebook’s marketing director has called for an end to on-line anonymity, saying internet users would ‘behave a lot better’ if everyone had to use real names when surfing or posting on the internet.
Randi Zuckerberg, Facebook’s marketing director and sister of multi-millionaire founder Mark, made the comments during a round table discussion on cyber bullying.
The ubiquitous social networking site, which has been at the centre of recent controversy over internet privacy and bullying issues, currently requires all its members to use their real names and emails when signing on.
ID: Randi Zuckerberg, marketing director of Facebook has spoken out against internet anonymity in a bid to end cyber bullying
Mrs Zuckerberg argued the end of on-line anonymity could help curb the trend of trolling and harassment on the web.
Speaking at a Marie Claire panel discussion on social media, she said: ‘ I think anonymity on the Internet has to go away.
‘People behave a lot better when they have their real names down. … I think people hide behind anonymity and they feel like they can say whatever they want behind closed doors.’
The comments echo those of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt who has previously labelled internet anonymity a ‘dangerous’ precedent, before predicting government intervention will one day lead to its demise.
Controversial: Mark Zuckerberg has recently hit the headlines for proposing to allow under 13s on Facebook
Concerned: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has also said previously internet anonymity would possibly come to an end
Privacy advocates have however condemned previous attempts to dismantle on-line anonymity.
attacked: Erin Andrews was also present at the meeting to speak about her traumatic experience of cyber bullying
Critics complain that the forced introduction of some kind of ‘on-line passport’ would damage the freedom of speech and blunt the internet as a tool for dissidents to speak up against oppressive governments.
The panel also pressed Mrs Zuckerberg to list what forthcoming safeguards the site has to protect security, she declined.
She added simply: ‘There’s so much more we can do.
‘We’re actively tying to work with partners like Common Sense Media and our safety advisory committee.’
The panel were joined by Erin Andrews, an ESPN anchor who had a naked video of her posted on-line by a stalker.
At times becoming emotional, Mrs Andrews asked Mr Schmidt why searches for her name still brought up images and videos of the offending tape, despite her repeated attempts to have them removed.
Adding that just because she was a woman in her 30s She said: ‘It’s still cyber bullying.
‘Somebody needs to step in. As a family we’re always asking, what is it going to take.’
Facebook has previously come under fire after founder Mark Zuckerberg said he would ‘fight’ to allow under-13s to
use the social networking website – despite warnings it would put the
most vulnerable children at risk.
In
America the age limit, also of 13, is dictated by laws designed to
protect young children, but Facebook’s 27-year-old billionaire creator
believes the educational benefits of using the site mean the
restrictions should be lifted.
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But I am sure Miss Lucky one Zuckerberg and the CEO of Google would have no problems giving the government access to troll and access people’s accounts without a person’s prior knowledge. This should raise a bright red flag for facebook and google user’s regarding privacy. I can understand applications like “Linked In” but I will never understand why a person would want their personal life exposed to millions of stranger’s on the web with applications like Facebook.
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Exactly why I don’t use social networks. I don’t want my life or my identity on the net. We are losing our privacy, and no one seems to care much. The thought upsets and scares me that you cannot be anonymous now, or soon, or just be an individual.
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Facebook will be the very first site I ‘deactivate my profile’ from. Infact I think I’ll do it now – Anon.
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It is shocking how popular totalitarianism is today. Try finding someone who has even heard of Hannah Arendt today. Years ago people probably read 1984 and Brave New World and thought “no way, not here, not ever”, while today they probably shrug and say “sure, that’s how it’s going, what’s the big deal.” Which is all fine and dandy until you want to be an individual or not go with the masses. If this doesn’t scare everyone it is clear our schools are not teaching history and critical thinking.
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Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was originally published anonymously. I’m sure at the time the King of England would have loved a proposal requiring every writer to use or reveal their real name.
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Absolutely correct.
My Spanish-registered car was llegally impounded by the Northamptonshire police, who had misinterpreted European legislation on the length of time a foreign car could stay in the UK.
I eventually received the backing of the European Commission, who forced the DVLA and the police to change their policy.
Complaints were upheld against the police and the Chief Constable had to apologise.
The case was then reported on the official police website, PoliceOracle, where I was subjected to abuse and, indeed, libellous remarks, by anonymous posters who did not know me and knew nothing about me.
What made it worse was that they were all serving or retired police officers. The only action taken by the Moderator was to block my reply ( which was in my own name.)
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Stealth marketing: Ford makes a noise about EVs
July 28, 2011 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News
One of the less talked about downsides of the electric vehicle – coming in a distant third to range limitations and the high cost of the batteries – is the stealth quiet of its engine. While we have heard at least one proponent of the EV claim that this could translate into a win, by making real estate on main roads more desirable, the more commonly held belief is that the near noiselessness of EVs makes them a safety hazard for pedestrians – particularly those with impaired vision or hearing. And it’s a bit hard to teach the kids to stop, look and listen when there’s nothing to hear.
For this reason, Japan requires its automakers to install sound alerts in hybrids and EVs – the Nissan Leaf emits an ‘engine noise’ at low speeds and a chirp when the car is in reverse. And in the US, national road safety authorities are currently weighing up whether they should do the same. “Even as we make giant leaps forward with hybrid and electric vehicles, we must remain laser focused on safety,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s David Strickland said in a statement earlier this month, when the agency announced a proposed regulation that would force EVs and hybrids to automatically sound alerts at low speeds. “With more and more quiet vehicles on the road, we have to consider their effect on pedestrians.”
Which brings us to the interesting approach of Ford Motor Co. Rather than wait for a law to be introduced, the US automaker has decided to take affirmative action and install sound alerts in its soon-to-be-released Focus EV. And in the spirit of hair-brained marketing schemes, it has decided to tap that font of collective wisdom, Facebook, to help it decide which artificial noise it should choose.
“We’re trying to find a distinct sound that’s pleasing to customers and alerts them of an on-coming vehicle,” says Dave McCreadie, noise/vibration supervisor for hybrid and electric vehicles at Ford. “This sound needs to be something that can be integrated into a person’s sound spectrum so they can immediately recognise the noise and associate it with an EV approaching… just like we do with emergency vehicle sirens.”
They started by polling their 300-odd EV Facebook fans, and their 3,400 employees, on what kind of sounds they would like to hear coming from the Focus Electric. “The poll tells us two things: Without a question, people are interested in the future of electric vehicles, and they want to be heard,” says Scott Monty, Ford digital and multimedia communications manager, on egmCarTech. “Consistent with our overall approach to social media, we’ve given customers a chance to have a voice and we’ve gone the extra step of acknowledging their input and building it into our business process.”
That extra step is Ford posting four test sounds on its Ford Electric Vehicles Facebook comments page, and asking fans (and employees) to rank them 1 (favourite) to 4 (least favourite). They are: Sound A, Sound B, Sound C, and Sound D. If you don’t have the time or inclination to listen to each of these, here is a quick rundown. A: Sounds menacing and a bit space-aged. B: Sounds a little bit like a car, sort of miscellaneous machine noise. C: Sounds a bit like a jet engine starting up (but a bit quieter, of course). And D: Another spacey, jet-y sound.
And the reactions? Varied. They range from people simply ranking the sounds from 1-4, as requested, to some interesting feedback about the sounds – and about whether EVs should have sounds at all.
One respondent, who ranks B as his number one choice, says: “But I think the high noises are very annoying compared to the deep noise of B, which sounds like a ‘real’ motor.”
“NONE OF THE ABOVE!,” says another participant. “At least make it sound like a car, and offer several choices like a Mustang GT, a regular focus or, an RS focus rally car.“
“I like none of the above,” says another. “How about horses trotting or maybe sleigh Bells? Seriously, something there but not obnoxious and invasive.”
And another: “‘B’ sounds like an internal combustion engine, which EV customers by definition loathe…that’s why they bought an EV. The other three clips all sound like the mothership revving up right before it blasts off and leaves ET behind.”
But as another Facebooker points out: “SIGH. The GOVERNMENT is mandating all electric cars have a sound. ‘SILENT’ is NOT an option.“
So perhaps it’s back to the sound lab for Ford.