We've been closely following the link between State and Social Networks in recent weeks. Semi-Jockingly I pointed out the 'suspiciousness'of a meeting between Obama and Zuckerberg and I looked at a report which suggested our UK web Privacy is diminishing. You only have to take a look in the paper to see the fusion of social-networking and politics. As I'm sure you've heard, the news of Bin Landen’s death was initially reported, not through official government channels but Twitter. And now Internet freedom fighter Julian Assange has jumped into the debate, making it loud and clear what he thinks of Facebook.
Facebook, says Assange, is ‘the most appalling spying machine that has ever been created.’
He accuses the company of actively cooperating with US intelligence forces to allow them to spy on citizens.”Here we have the world’s most comprehensive database about people, their relationships, their names, their addresses, their locations, their communications with each other, their relatives, all sitting within the United States, all accessible to US intelligence" he claimed.
But it's not just Facebook either. Assange pointed the finger at other web giants too “Google, Yahoo, all these major US organizations have built-in interfaces for US intelligence. It’s not a matter of serving a subpoena. They have an interface that they have developed for US intelligence to use.”
Facebook have admitted to previously handing over information when forced to do so by the law. But Assange is suggesting that they are willingly co-operating with the authorities. Obviously it's all conspiracy theory, with no basis in fact but that doesn't mean he's a deluded lunatic. Facebook is potentially dangerous. It's only a matter of time before something 'big' happens and this story explodes into the public eye.