Why I'm Deleting My Facebook Account

Why I’m Deleting My Facebook Account

Facebook: the biggest advertising company and personal information database in history.

I’m deleting my Facebook account. Why? Facebook doesn’t value individual privacy, and and it’s reached a tipping point where I don’t feel that the value I attain from the service is worth the personal information I’m forced to give up. Facebook uses its facial recognition software, PhotoDNA, to scan every photo you upload & cross-reference it against a criminal database. Every face tag adds to a massive repository of data about our faces. Our personal data is mined, traded, sold, and swapped, making anonymity harder and identity theft easier. And no, deleting things & setting strict privacy settings isn’t enough: Facebook stores massive databases of “deleted” information on its servers. In 1 week from my writing this, they’re forcing all users to adopt Timeline.

Facebook isn’t free: you pay for it, knowingly or unknowingly, with your valuable personal data. But you have choices:

Support websites & companies that *do* value free speech, anonymity, and privacy
Use tracker-blocking software
Don’t give out your real name and info unless you absolutely have to
Use services like Tor to anonymize your IP when you’re browsing

You can always find me on FetLife, Twitter, and via email (Raven@FreedomOfFetish.com)., sites that have shown a dedication to individual privacy.

I want to live in a world where I can be who I want, and I can’t do that without privacy. If you’re the same way, get the hell out of there, too.