Henderson, NV- Free speech and privacy driven social platform Parler has repeatedly condemned Facebook’s deceptive and abusive data mining and is today highlighting the tech giant’s objection to Apple’s recently-announced privacy initiatives.
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Disregard For User Privacy Continues To Expand
In a statement addressing Apple’s plans to limit and disclose how apps running on iOS gather and analyze personal data, Apple director of global privacy Jane Horvath wrote, “Facebook executives have made clear their intent is to collect as much data as possible across both first and third party products to develop and monetize detailed profiles of their users, and this disregard for user privacy continues to expand to include more of their products.”
Facebook has pushed back with accusations that Apple abuses its market position, but Facebook’s record on privacy is so grim they are currently engaged in legal action to stop a New York University academic study looking into their targeting practices.
The popular movie ”The Social Dilemma” has made millions aware of concerns about Facebook’s intrusive and manipulative practices. While these have not yet been proven in a court of law, Facebook long ago admitted under oath that they have repeatedly lied to and deceived their customers, and were earlier this year hit with a record $5 billion fine. Judge Timothy Kelly, who approved the sanction, called Facebook’s behavior “unscrupulous” and said evidence that it violated both the law and an administrative order was “stunning.”
Deception and lies have been part of Facebook’s business model for over a decade. In 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a settlement that censured Facebook for abusing data and privacy. Facebook agreed to a list of reforms under court order, but a 2018 investigation showed that the behavior continued, and even expanded, in violation of that order.
Parler COO Criticizes Facebook
Facebook remains under fire for unscrupulous behavior. In July, the tech publisher paid $550 million to settle a lawsuit over illegal and abusive use of facial recognition technology, and is currently facing multiple lawsuits over its data practices and potential additional enforcement action by the FTC.
“Facebook’s monetization model depends on extracting every piece of personal data, and using it to dehumanize, commoditize and monetize all of us—even those who don’t use Facebook. They misappropriate tremendous value from us, while going to great lengths to circumvent true protections, and at the same time inviting regulations that will only entrench them further. In doing so, they prevent competitors with different monetization models—models that don’t depend on ‘data strip-mining’—from entering the market,” said Parler COO Jeffrey Wernick. “Facebook is a massive global surveillance operation and an enemy of privacy. They are the Platonic Form of the technoauthoritarian and will use their vast resources to undermine attempts by Apple and others to protect our privacy, because it hurts their bottom line. This is a David-and-Goliath struggle, one in which we intend to repeat David’s feat.
“Our data is our property and should be secure, portable, and used only with our cooperation, for our benefit, and with our explicit consent. Millions of concerned individuals have already rejected Facebook and joined Parler. We welcome all people who want to protect their privacy and share in the value of their content, data, and goodwill to join us and speak free.”
Parler is committed to free speech, does not mine or sell data, and does not remove content based on politics or ideology. Parler continues to stand with the People and against technoauthoritarianism.
To schedule an interview with John Matze, CEO of Parler, Amy Peikoff, Chief Policy Officer, or Jeffrey Wernick, Chief Operating Officer, please contact Francesca Goerg at [email protected], or Will Hadden at whadden@sbpublicaffairs.com
