Judge blocks FB Off Site security feature

[tangor]

A new Facebook feature that lets users clear their browser history just got sidetracked by concerns that it would also allow sex traffickers to cover their tracks.

A state judge in Texas on Thursday temporarily blocked the planned rollout of the Off-Facebook Activity feature in the U.S. at the request of a woman who claims in a lawsuit the company didn’t do enough to save her from being trafficked after meeting predators on the social network as a teenager.

[bloomberg.com...]

Facebook's new privacy feature may be in trouble because of law enforcement concerns. Case has not been decided, but for the moment FB is enjoined to not proceed with the feature until at least 30 August when the judge will hear arguments before deciding if a longer period may be in order.

[ken_b]

I guess I'm a bit confused about this tool. How is it different from the "clear history" tools built into a browser?

[tangor]

The off-site history is what FB collects (and holds) on their servers. At least that is what is being claimed.

[ken_b]

ahha!

[Selen]

A freelancer I work with has recently told me that he set up an online payment account with a popular third party payment. In order to verify his account, they sent him an email to login to his Facebook account and confirm it through them. He doesn't have a FB account; it was strange and may suggest FB is more than just a social platform.

[engine]

For the record, here's the earlier story on this tool.
[webmasterworld.com...]

[tangor]

Earlier story noted. This story is a US court told FB to NOT put it in place.

Hearing will be August 30.

For FB users that means this tool will not be available until after the court decides one way or the other.