LINK
http://www.koolmuzone.com/2009/03/dawn-images-the-real-face-of-facebook/
Sunday, 29 Mar, 2009 04:30 AM PST
by Hafsa AhsanSource: Dawn ImagesIn the good, old days, the adage was that “Big Brother” is watching. Today, even when there is no security camera in your vicinity, there is someone who has an eye on all your activities — or at least, has the potential to do so.
Every website you visit in cyberspace has the ability to track you and your activities. But those to whom you willingly submit your information, and use it to interact with your friends, have an extremely easy time doing it.
And that is where social networking websites like Facebook come in the picture. You willingly post your personal and professional information, publish all the one hundred and six photos which you took at your annual dinner, and discuss the latest happenings in your college with all your friends. All this while, you may be totally oblivious to where this information is being stored and how it will be used.
The recent brouhaha surrounding Facebook and the way it changed its privacy policy, is by no means the only controversy which has enveloped this particular social networking service. Facebook has been the focus of quite a lot of criticism over the years. And yes, these concerns relate to privacy and privacy only.
In August 2007, Tech Crunch (http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/11/facebook-source-code-leaked/) reported that the source code of Facebook in PHP was published on a blog for all and sundry. As one can imagine, if anyone gets their hands on the source code of Facebook, they have unlimited access to the data of whoever has an account there. Facebook responded promptly, admitting that some of the code was leaked and announcing stricter measures to guard it. But the question remains how the code got public. And if it can go public once, it certainly has the potential to do so again, especially with professional hackers around.
November 2007 saw another Facebook outcry, when a blogger on CA Security Advisor Research Blog (http://community.ca.com/blogs/securityadvisor/archive/2007/11/29/facebook-socialads-going-too-far.aspx ) reported that the social networking website was collecting information about its members’ activities on its affiliate websites. For instance, if you visited an affiliate website of Facebook, information about you and your activities will be collected and sent to Facebook (even if you were not logged into Facebook at the time). This could be information about a game you have played for instance. Moreover, not only would this information go back to Facebook, but it would be published in your Mini-feed as well. Facebook again responded to say that they do not use or retain information about their users on affiliate websites, if the users choose to opt out of this or are logged out of Facebook at the time.
The more recent complaint came on the forefront in February 2009, with regards to the Facebook terms and conditions. Now, it is a general attitude that terms and conditions of any website are hardly, if ever, read thoroughly.
It was very likely that the changes would have gone unnoticed. However, Chris Walters, a blogger for The Consumerist website, spotted the fine print in the new terms and conditions drafted by Facebook, and hence, the storm began.
Basically, the new conditions stated that Facebook would retain the information of its users, even if the users delete it from Facebook. It was also stated that even if users stop using Facebook, their information will be retained. One can only wonder what use this information would be to Facebook — if the user has discontinued using Facebook, or has deleted a photo / wall post, what’s the point in retaining it? As the users, non-users and privacy activists raised this issue, Facebook was pressured into reverting to its previous terms and conditions, something which can be regarded as a victory for privacy conscious individuals.
The interesting point here is that it was pointed out exactly a year ago, in February 2008, that Facebook does not have a proper system in place for users who want to close their account and discontinue Facebook – this gives rise to the suspicion that the account is not actually closed, and the data of the user can be accessed indefinitely by Facebook.
Currently, to counter the wave of criticism, a group has been created by the owner of Facebook entitled “Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.” Users have been invited to share their views and contribute towards a “new” draft of the terms and conditions, which are written in a reader-friendly language.
In the light of the many incidents mentioned above, what can an average individual do? The one major thing which can be done is to visit the “settings” every once in a while. You will discover quite a few additional checkboxes, pertaining to the use of your information by Facebook. Interestingly, these boxes are checked by default. Hence, you have to be vigilant, keep track of your settings, and uncheck all the extra boxes It is quite normal to expect the Facebook controversies to continue. At the end of the day, it is all about how vigilant you are about your use of social networking websites. Irrespective of how Facebook uses or does not use your information, it is you who has to make sure that you don’t go overboard by uploading private photos or discussing anything which may come back to haunt you. The idea of anyone having a dossier on you is already spooky to the nth degree. Hence, the less that dossier has, the better it is for you and your peace of mind.
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Canada Votes
Canadians have chosen "slow and steady," giving Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives a tighter hold on minority government as the country braces for a looming economic downturn. Harper, 49, was able to make vital gains in Ontario, including big victories in the 905 region, but campaign missteps in Quebec kept his long-sought majority agonizingly out of reach and leaves him facing a divided Parliament. But last night, Harper said Conservatives "hold out our hand to all members of Parliament" in order to "protect Canada's economy.
"This is a time for us all to put aside political differences and partisan considerations and to work cooperatively for the benefit of Canada," Harper told supporters at Calgary's Telus Convention Centre. The night proved a bitter disappointment for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, 53, who failed to sell voters on his leadership or his controversial carbon tax and now faces an almost certain challenge to his leadership.
Dion told supporters early today that he will co-operate with the government in dealing with the economy. "We Liberals will do our part responsibly to make sure this Parliament works," he said.
"I assured (Harper) that my top priority will be the economy."
Liberals lost seats across Atlantic Canada and in the one-time stronghold of Ontario, where they gave up seats to the Conservatives in ridings such as Oakville and Halton, where high-profile Liberal Garth Turner lost to Conservative Lisa Raitt.
Dion, in his first campaign as a party leader, said he wouldn't quit if Liberals lost the election. But Tuesday night's result – the worst showing for the party in at least 20 years – makes it doubtful that Liberals are willing to give Dion, who struggled with English and his ability to connect with voters, a second chance.
Liberals Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff – Dion's rivals for the party leadership – both won their Toronto seats last night, ensuring that leadership speculation remains alive.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, 58, improved his party's standings, winning seats in Newfoundland and Northern Ontario. Layton campaigned to be prime minister, but in reality aspired to replace the Liberals as official Opposition. He lost on both counts, but yesterday's results give the NDP a stronger voice in Parliament.
"We didn't quite get the gold medal this election but we did give it our best shot," Layton told supporters gathered last night at a club on Toronto's waterfront. And he noted that the election did not give Harper a blank cheque. "Canadians have elected a minority Parliament. No party has a mandate to implement an agenda without agreement from the other parties," said Layton, whose wife Olivia Chow won in the riding of Trinity-Spadina.
In Quebec, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe, 61, turned around his campaign and held onto seats, thanks to the Conservative missteps in the province, especially a proposed crackdown on young offenders, as well as arts cuts.
The result marks Canada's third minority government in four years. And it means the Conservatives will continue to face three progressive-leaning parties in Parliament, which could force Harper to strike a more conciliatory approach to his dealings with political rivals.
It could also mean that a question mark hangs over a Conservative campaign pledge to crack down on teen offenders, given the strong opposition to it from the other parties.
What started out as a sleeper campaign turned dramatic as wild stock market swings, global bank failures and recession fears thrust the economy into the spotlight.
In the end, voters opted for Harper's modest platform. But they kept the Conservatives on a short leash as they were unwilling again to trust them with a majority government, something that had seemed within easy reach during the 37-day campaign.
The Prime Minister gambled with his election call, opting to go to the polls a full year before the date set by his party's own legislation for the next vote. He told Canadians that Parliament was at an impasse and that he needed a new mandate from voters.
While Harper was able to deliver new seats at the expense of the Liberals – and make critical gains in Ontario – the result is sure to fuel some questions within Conservative ranks about Harper's leadership. For the third time he has failed to deliver a majority, despite the best possible scenario this time – a weak rival trying to sell voters on a new tax.
Conservative cabinet minister Diane Ablonczy insisted the party would be happy with the results, even though it fell about a dozen seats short of the 155 seats needed for a majority.
"We're very pleased with the very strong mandate we received tonight. I think you'll see a Parliament that works much better going forward," she told CBC News Tuesday night.
Harper, who must form a new cabinet in the coming weeks, is already facing opposition calls to return Parliament quickly to deal with the economic crisis and bring forward an economic update on the state of the country's financial books. Green Leader Elizabeth May, 54, fell short as well last night, losing to her Conservative rival Peter MacKay in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova.
The Greens failed to elect any of their candidates. Still, May's high-profile run gave new publicity to the party, thanks largely to her successful fight to win a spot in the televised leaders' debates, where she impressed many Canadians with her performance.
Harper launched the election on Sept. 7 determined to frame the ballot box issue as a question of whom Canadians should trust to lead the nation in troubled times.
In the end, the economy – and stomach-churning stock market tumbles that saw the Toronto index plunged more than 20 per cent during the campaign – stole his thunder and became the story of the campaign as all leaders pitched themselves as the best stewards to lead the nation.
The Prime Minister preached a "steady-as-she-goes" approach but Canadians scolded Harper for his initial lack of empathy for their worries over sagging investment portfolios and the future of their jobs. At one point, he even said there were some "great buying opportunities" as a result of the downtown, a comment that drew complaints that he was tone-deaf to the concerns of Canadians. The opposition parties jumped on the economy, charging that Harper's modest platform was a "do-nothing" recipe. Dion used the French-language televised debate to release his own five-point plan to bolster the economy. Layton drew attention to the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs. As well, Conservative cuts to arts and culture funding – and Harper's dismissive response – cost the party precious seats in Quebec, where the Conservatives had carefully courted voters in the hopes of making gains.
The result now ensures that the threat of another election will continue to hang over the nation.
http://www.thestar.com/federalelection/article/517664
"This is a time for us all to put aside political differences and partisan considerations and to work cooperatively for the benefit of Canada," Harper told supporters at Calgary's Telus Convention Centre. The night proved a bitter disappointment for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, 53, who failed to sell voters on his leadership or his controversial carbon tax and now faces an almost certain challenge to his leadership.
Dion told supporters early today that he will co-operate with the government in dealing with the economy. "We Liberals will do our part responsibly to make sure this Parliament works," he said.
"I assured (Harper) that my top priority will be the economy."
Liberals lost seats across Atlantic Canada and in the one-time stronghold of Ontario, where they gave up seats to the Conservatives in ridings such as Oakville and Halton, where high-profile Liberal Garth Turner lost to Conservative Lisa Raitt.
Dion, in his first campaign as a party leader, said he wouldn't quit if Liberals lost the election. But Tuesday night's result – the worst showing for the party in at least 20 years – makes it doubtful that Liberals are willing to give Dion, who struggled with English and his ability to connect with voters, a second chance.
Liberals Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff – Dion's rivals for the party leadership – both won their Toronto seats last night, ensuring that leadership speculation remains alive.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, 58, improved his party's standings, winning seats in Newfoundland and Northern Ontario. Layton campaigned to be prime minister, but in reality aspired to replace the Liberals as official Opposition. He lost on both counts, but yesterday's results give the NDP a stronger voice in Parliament.
"We didn't quite get the gold medal this election but we did give it our best shot," Layton told supporters gathered last night at a club on Toronto's waterfront. And he noted that the election did not give Harper a blank cheque. "Canadians have elected a minority Parliament. No party has a mandate to implement an agenda without agreement from the other parties," said Layton, whose wife Olivia Chow won in the riding of Trinity-Spadina.
In Quebec, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe, 61, turned around his campaign and held onto seats, thanks to the Conservative missteps in the province, especially a proposed crackdown on young offenders, as well as arts cuts.
The result marks Canada's third minority government in four years. And it means the Conservatives will continue to face three progressive-leaning parties in Parliament, which could force Harper to strike a more conciliatory approach to his dealings with political rivals.
It could also mean that a question mark hangs over a Conservative campaign pledge to crack down on teen offenders, given the strong opposition to it from the other parties.
What started out as a sleeper campaign turned dramatic as wild stock market swings, global bank failures and recession fears thrust the economy into the spotlight.
In the end, voters opted for Harper's modest platform. But they kept the Conservatives on a short leash as they were unwilling again to trust them with a majority government, something that had seemed within easy reach during the 37-day campaign.
The Prime Minister gambled with his election call, opting to go to the polls a full year before the date set by his party's own legislation for the next vote. He told Canadians that Parliament was at an impasse and that he needed a new mandate from voters.
While Harper was able to deliver new seats at the expense of the Liberals – and make critical gains in Ontario – the result is sure to fuel some questions within Conservative ranks about Harper's leadership. For the third time he has failed to deliver a majority, despite the best possible scenario this time – a weak rival trying to sell voters on a new tax.
Conservative cabinet minister Diane Ablonczy insisted the party would be happy with the results, even though it fell about a dozen seats short of the 155 seats needed for a majority.
"We're very pleased with the very strong mandate we received tonight. I think you'll see a Parliament that works much better going forward," she told CBC News Tuesday night.
Harper, who must form a new cabinet in the coming weeks, is already facing opposition calls to return Parliament quickly to deal with the economic crisis and bring forward an economic update on the state of the country's financial books. Green Leader Elizabeth May, 54, fell short as well last night, losing to her Conservative rival Peter MacKay in the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova.
The Greens failed to elect any of their candidates. Still, May's high-profile run gave new publicity to the party, thanks largely to her successful fight to win a spot in the televised leaders' debates, where she impressed many Canadians with her performance.
Harper launched the election on Sept. 7 determined to frame the ballot box issue as a question of whom Canadians should trust to lead the nation in troubled times.
In the end, the economy – and stomach-churning stock market tumbles that saw the Toronto index plunged more than 20 per cent during the campaign – stole his thunder and became the story of the campaign as all leaders pitched themselves as the best stewards to lead the nation.
The Prime Minister preached a "steady-as-she-goes" approach but Canadians scolded Harper for his initial lack of empathy for their worries over sagging investment portfolios and the future of their jobs. At one point, he even said there were some "great buying opportunities" as a result of the downtown, a comment that drew complaints that he was tone-deaf to the concerns of Canadians. The opposition parties jumped on the economy, charging that Harper's modest platform was a "do-nothing" recipe. Dion used the French-language televised debate to release his own five-point plan to bolster the economy. Layton drew attention to the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs. As well, Conservative cuts to arts and culture funding – and Harper's dismissive response – cost the party precious seats in Quebec, where the Conservatives had carefully courted voters in the hopes of making gains.
The result now ensures that the threat of another election will continue to hang over the nation.
http://www.thestar.com/federalelection/article/517664
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Some of us never listen
Passengers travelling by PIA's direct flight from Pakistan to Toronto are facing severe scrutiny on landing here, following a recent incident when a passenger managed to travel on one such flight without a ticket, visa or even a passport. The incident exposed serious flaws in security at Pakistani airports. In this case a PIA contract employee, who was recently regularized, travelled on PK 781 from Karachi to Islamabad on a rebated domestic ticket, and then managed to stay on board the aircraft, going all the way to Toronto. The fact that he was a PIA contract loader makes the situation worse. Reports that this stowaway passenger was known to some of the cabin crew who perhaps ignored his presence are even more worrying. It is mind-boggling that such an incident can take place, where a passenger can travel without going through immigration, customs or security. Airlines have systems where headcount of passengers is a mandatory requirement before departure. What if this passenger had been a terrorist? Heads should roll but will they? Due to few people, every body now have to suffer taking PIA. After reading this will you guys will be taking PIA to Canada?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Police quell Montreal riot
Montreal Rioters burnt cars and three Canadian police were injured in a predominantly Haitian district of Montreal. More than 500 police were deployed and six people were arrested in the riots after police shot dead a Haitian man. (AFP)
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