What we know about Facebook: 7 frightening patents obtained social network

Big Brother is watching us, and this is, perhaps, no one no longer a secret. However, the ways in which he does it (or at least plans), really scary.

Columnist edition The New York Times Sahil Chinoy (Sahil Chinoy) interested in how to track the mood and the lives of their users the largest social network in the world - Facebook. He reviewed hundreds of patent applications filed by the company in recent years, and selected seven who prove: private life and privacy on the Internet no longer exists.

Here's what Facebook has the opportunity to know about you. If he wants to.

1. When your loved ones die

Predicting the future? Yes that's it. The patent is called a little differently - "Predicting changes in the life of members of a social network", But the essence remains the same. This patent application describes a mechanism that allows you to use your posts, comments, private messages, as well as transaction and the physical location of your bank card, to anticipate major life events. For example, the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, or, say, a final exam, which will transform your destiny.

2. With whom and how you spend your time

Layfhaker already wrote about how Facebook can track your friends and friends - even those with whom you are not in a formal "Friend" in social networks. But the patent application entitled "Statistics for continuous location tracking"Significantly expands the capabilities of Big Brother. The document proposes to match the physical location of your phone with the location of the smartphone your friends and acquaintances. If your mobile next - so you spend time in each other's company.

It is also proposed to record where and when your phone is in a stationary state. From this we can conclude that, where you are, for example, used to work or dine.

3. Where do you live and when to break their habits

At night your fixed phone gives Facebook the information about where you sleep. If every night you sleep in the same place, the social network is easy to calculate the location of your house.

A more Big Brother, all the same tracking your smart phone, will be aware, if you suddenly change the habits and go to sleep somewhere (to someone) else. Patent application entitled "Notice of the rejection of standard actions"Implies that these your pranks will also be monitored. Moreover, the social network will be able to send the information about what you are doing some unusual for you to action, to other users.

4. With whom you are in a romantic relationship (and whether or not a member)

Patent obtained Facebook, so called "Determination of the status of relations, which consist of users of social networks». To calculate your "It's Complicated" social network analyzes a wealth of information: for example, how often you visit the page or other users with whom you are chatting, where you spend your free time and in whose society, many have friends of the opposite sex, and so Further.

Based on this Facebook is able to quite unambiguously classify you as a "Single / Single", "is in a relationship," "single" or, say, "has other bonuses».

5. Who are you as a person

Extrovert or an introvert? Excitable or emotionally stable? Amateur tea or coffee? A fan of cats or dogs? The patent, entitled "Determining the identity of the user based on his posts"Social networks gives an opportunity to make your psychological profile. More than accurate.

Layfhaker already I wroteFor which this information may be used. Re-read - you will not like.

Facebook has repeatedly stated that its patents - patents, it's just that the social network has no plans to apply in practice. However, it is almost impossible to check.

6. Who do you take pictures and photographs who you

You can include paranoia, disconnect your smartphone and Facebook feature geolocation, Hide from everyone, where and with whom you are, but if the social network "see" the images taken on your smartphone's camera, paranoia would be useless.

patent "Comparison of the cameras with users of social networks"Assumes that all the characteristics of the camera of your smartphone (or other gadget with which you leave in Facebook) will be carefully analyzed. Dead pixels, the smallest scratches and other defects on the lens - all this will allow the social network to create a unique "fingerprint" of your camera.

If you photographed on your camera some man, Facebook will establish the connection between you. If you and someone else (whose camera also has a unique "fingerprint") taking a picture of an object in the same time and with similar perspective, Facebook again establish the connection between you. The more threads of - the more detailed information about your social contacts. Even the ones you would prefer to hide.

7. What you see and hear

patent "Correlation data media consumption with user profiles"Describes the mechanism of how the microphone of your hands over your multimedia gadget addiction with giblets.

What TV show you're watching and unplug if at the same time advertising, which prefer the radio, what advertising messages hearing, walking to the supermarket or the city - this information allows the social network to calculate acceptable for you content. That, of course, more effective manipulate you in the future.

see also

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• How to deactivate or delete your Facebook account →