Biting the hand that feeds IT
Biting the hand that feeds IT
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Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/26/ico_facebook_investigation_complete/
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is now satisfied that Facebook is letting people escape the bear hug of its data retention policy, it said today.
The national data watchdog is to stand down its investigation of the site, a spokeswoman told El Reg today.
Facebook attracted the ICO's attention (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/20/facebook_uk_data_protection/) last November after complaints over its infamous "Hotel California" policy (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/25/microsoft_facebook_comment/) on people who want to leave the network. Until very recently, it was only possible for members to deactivate their account, not delete it.
US pressure from an article in the New York Times prompted a change less than two weeks ago (see "Please don't leave me... bitch" (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/19/fb_easy_to_leave/)).
The ICO's spokeswoman said: "It's really good to see they've taken on board our concerns on an informal basis. We've established they are now complying with the guidelines."
It's one less headache for Zuckerberg and co, who are finally feeling the heat from the mainstream UK press now their site's growth appears to have topped out (see here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/21/fb_nielsen_fall/) and here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/31/myspace_fb_comscore_drop/)). It's just a shame such a small concession to the people it is hoping to build its alleged business on took Facebook so long, really. ®
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/01/gates_zuckerberg_friendship_cure/
First 'Facebook harassment' defendant cleared (27 March 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/27/facebook_birmingham_harassment_cleared/
Zuckerberg's Total Venom Spew is the new BillG (10 March 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/10/zuckerberg_total_venom_spew/
Prosecutors target first 'Facebook harassment' conviction (5 March 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/05/facebook_harrassment_trial/
Facebook loses a few bitches (21 February 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/21/fb_nielsen_fall/
Please don't leave me... bitch (19 February 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/19/fb_easy_to_leave/
Billg quits Facebook (8 February 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/08/bill_facebook_shut/
'Facebook fatigue' kicks in as people tire of social networks (31 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/31/myspace_fb_comscore_drop/
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/24/fb_translation/
Crazy Frog millionaires invest in Facebook (16 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/16/crazy_frog_fb_investment/
Bill Gates lives inside of Facebook CEO (15 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/15/zuckerberg_memory_facebook/
Facebook founder loses court battle to keep personal data offline (3 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/03/zuckerberg_files/
Facebook 'to drop' creeptech ad system (29 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/29/facebook_beacon_ditch/
Facebook faces UK data probe (20 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/20/facebook_uk_data_protection/
I'm a walking billboard .... bitch (9 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/09/facebook_analysis/
Facebook mounts Tupperware-style ads push (7 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/07/facebook_socialads/
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