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Whether privacy issues will put a bomb under the future of Facebook remains to be seen. It probably won't get that bad and the company will come up with solutions itself. After all, it is in Facebook's greatest interest that consumers feel safe and comfortable on the network site. In the meantime, Facebook is not entirely indifferent when it comes to privacy issues. In June, the network site introduced a function that uses facial recognition software. When someone posts a photo on Facebook, the software checks whether there are people from the friends list in the photo. If there are, Facebook suggests 'tagging' that person in the photo. The name of that person is then linked to the photo.
According to the German privacy authorities, this processing of personal data is not permitted and in the Netherlands, the function may also be in conflict with the Personal Data Protection Act. Facebook hopes to remove the objections with new privacy settings . The privacy settings of the network site are now being adjusted in such a way that it is easier for users to indicate who may see certain hungary phone number list content. The privacy settings can also be used to select the option where someone must first give permission before a photo in which he or she is 'tagged' becomes visible.
It is not yet clear which way things will go in Europe and which camp the Netherlands will be in. Will the security of the nation, as in England, be placed above the interests of the citizens or will more and more barriers be erected for the industry to protect the privacy of citizens, as in Germany? The problem may be approached more practically and economic interests will gain the upper hand. Much will depend on how the internet giants themselves deal with these problems, the innovations they will come up with and the abuses they may still have in store for us.
It is unlikely that Britain will become a safer nation by using Big Brother. Nor is it likely that Germany will be able to maintain its leading position in the economy if it stifles an important emerging sector by focusing blindly on privacy. Of course, authorities must protect their citizens from threats, but some of the risk will have to be borne by the citizens themselves. When it became clear that the increased use of cars was leading to more fatal accidents, cars were not banned. They have become safer and they have changed the world. New technologies bring new risks. This has always been the case. The threats are counterbalanced by new opportunities. Nations that seize such opportunities most quickly often maintain a significant lead for a long time.
If EU member states were to act together on these issues, it could have major benefits for businesses and consumers, and for the economy as a whole. If the rules of the game were the same in all countries, new services could be rolled out more easily. More people could benefit from them sooner. Unfortunately, Greece has made it clear to us that a united Europe is far from a given.