You don’t have to look too deep to realize that access to your data is the main reason why Facebook is free. This isn’t the social media giant’s first go-round with data privacy-related controversy, but with this one allegedly playing a large part in the campaign that won the recent US presidential elections – this is definitely the most impactful one so far. As the real issues continue to unfold, there are understandably increasing concerns about how careful the platform is with users’ data.

With this, Expat asks, “In an age where data is collected on everything you do online, what are your thoughts on Facebook, and on data privacy in general?”

Jim Oakes
British
Dohacreative and Makati Arts Co-founder

Facebook is essential for my Art business – I have two Facebook sites to promote it. I also use Facebook to keep in touch with relatives and friends. I find Facebook to be excellent and I am not too concerned about the privacy aspects as their privacy controls are easy to follow and apply. My only wish is that they would stop sending me what they think are popular sites and comments from anywhere and everywhere. I ignore them, but yes, I do find this to be a real nuisance.

Ashley Fruno
Canadian
PETA Asia Director of Animal Assistance Programs

Facebook, and social media in general, is a beneficial platform for sharing information on animal welfare and other social justice issues, and creating social change. At the same time, sites like Facebook log every interaction we have and share that information with others. In my opinion, people spend too much time on these sites and need to be more educated and careful about how they share data to protect their privacy.

Paul V. Rivera
Filipino-American
Kalibrr Co-Founder and CEO

Being both a millennial as well as someone in the tech industry, I have resigned to the fact that the big tech companies probably have a lot of my data, and as long as I get to use their technology and products for free, its hard for me to complain. I can choose to not use them, but that would be a lot more inconvenient.

Data privacy is absolutely important and companies should be penalized for violating existing laws and a regulatory framework put in place – but one must understand that there is no free lunch in this world and I’m somewhat OK with my data being out there as the positives to date have outweighed the negatives.

Wouter Kulche
Dutch
Freelance Outbound call agent for WOZ Consultants / Freelance Journalist

Facebook is useful for me to find tenants for my property and to stay up to date with the lives of friends and relatives (and I love online discussions with radicals). It was to be expected that data is collected, and though I find that wrong I am not up in arms about it.

Sam Peterson
American
Loc&Stor 24/7 Founder

I believe, or at least hope, that the recent heightened profile of data collecting and sharing practice, will lead to greater and simpler control of what is done with your data. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a universal, simple to control, interface for all your apps data usage privilege? And, unlike now (I think) you could choose to give it access to your location, but only for certain purposes, e.g., Google Maps can only give you directions, tell you what interests are near by (if you so opt in), but would not track and store your travels unless you opt in. Perhaps in some convoluted way you can do this now, but a simple universal interface would make this easy for all.