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That takes us back to the top-level query: how do they know who I know? I'm not on Facebook.

But the answer seems clear: a member can run a feature designed to find people they know on FB, using their email address book (for a web-based account). They probably don't realize (maybe are not clearly informed) that FB will store the addresses retrieved in a dbase.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 04:36:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, I get invites sent to my work address, "blah de blah has invited you to join this shitty website" - not just for facebook but for other stuff like dating websites and other social networking things I've not heard of.

Ad astra per aspera
by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 04:41:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That results from an invitation, though.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 04:44:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well there is the worry that the more authoritarian organisations will be able to use these social networking software pieces to aggregate left wing groups, environmental groups, etc. As a strategy to avoid this it might be a good approach if you are a member of these sites to add some random people as chaff to their understanding.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 04:49:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
In the US it's a given that various entities are data mining the internet.  At last report the number of false positives are giving them fits.  Some recent "information received" indicates they may be, in some manner, becoming more efficient.  They could have done this using non-standard, but known, computer information processing and decision making procedures without a leap in Information Processing Theory.

So ...

If you are reading this the probability of your internetting becoming part of a file is ever so-slightly increased by talking to US citizens.

by ATinNM on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 05:01:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
They can run a search using your information against all the data they have in their database.  Then build a chain of valid inferences using ISA comparison operations to get the indirect connections.  

Straight forward Set Theory, in other words.

by ATinNM on Sun Mar 7th, 2010 at 04:52:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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