Facebook Puts the Brakes on Google Friend Connect

Thursday, May 15th, 2008 by Janet Meiners

Facebook Puts the Brakes on Google Friend Connect

Facebook was onboard with Google’s new Friend Connect – until they looked a little closer at how the technology works. Then they suspended Google’s access to Facebook.

On the Facebook Developer’s blog post “Thoughts on Privacy” it says:

We’ve found that it [Google Friend Connect] redistributes user information from Facebook to other developers without users’ knowledge, which doesn’t respect the privacy standards our users have come to expect and is a violation of our Terms of Service.

Now the post doesn’t come out and say their thoughts are not random musings, but an announcement that they are “suspending Google Friend Connect’s access to Facebook user information” until they come into compliance. In other words, the application passes information from your Facebook profile to other sites without your knowledge.

As far as we know Google hasn’t responded but Facebook says, “We’ve reached out to Google several times about this issue, and hope to work with them to enable users to share their data exactly when and where they choose.” In the post, Facebook said they didn’t know what they were agreeing to and that there was never a formal partnership.

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10 comments on “Facebook Puts the Brakes on Google Friend Connect”

Facebook Puts a Hold on Google Friend Connect for Privacy Issues Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 12:31 am

[...] Check out this guest post over at Marketing Pilgrim, Facebook Puts the Breaks on Google Friend Connect. [...]
Brick Marketing Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 8:27 am

Glad to see Facebook is finally taking their user’s privacy seriously — even if it means banning the big boys. Way to go FB!
Seologia Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 8:57 am

There’s no reason why any website should modify their terms or conditions just for the big G.

Seologia’s last blog post..URLs caníbales
» Facebooks Tells Google To ‘Bug Off’ Local Advertising Journal Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am

[...] has decided not to let Google tap into its user base to include Facebook profiles into its Google FriendConnect tool. The reason cited is because Google won’t promise the same level of privacy that Facebook [...]
Elections guy Says:

May 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

I think they finally have to produce some solution, extend its API and grant access to Google. I think these are only facebook issues here.

Elections guy’s last blog post..Polls before Pennsylvania primary: Obama most popular
Web Developer Says:

May 17th, 2008 at 7:10 am

This privacy is a must for Face Book, well done.
Wii Guy Says:

May 18th, 2008 at 7:56 am

Great move. People always put Google in a class where they always seem to have good business practices. This just proves that they are just like any other business.

John
Tiffany Says:

May 19th, 2008 at 1:03 am

Very brave decision! I’m sure they have considered it very well.
Musashi Says:

May 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm

“Dont do evil”, wasnt that googles motto? How can they still take themselves seriously?
Top Rated Says:

June 2nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm

This seems to be a recurring problem with Facebook. Security and privacy that is. They do need to play hardball with partners when it concerns a threat to their core business. No different than the way Google slaps around it’s adSense and adWords partners.

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