Hisham Sarwar
Facebook lets you download your complete data in a archived zip file. Facebook has made it very easy to download and know everything you have been doing on the world’s largest social network with over 2 billion users all over the world. While surfing through the downloaded file given to my by Facebook, I was surprised how every tiny detail has been recorded about me and it doesn’t sound a fun place to live anymore.
Be Careful, Be Really Careful.
When you downloaded your data archive, you’ll find a folder containing a file INDEX.HTM. You will also see folders named html, messages, photos, and videos. Just open the INDEX.HTM and start exploring your activities on Facebook. You’ve been absolutely closely monitored, pretty similar to what Tom Cruise has been doing as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible movie series.
I have included a post which has various images/screen shots identifying the process of initiating the process and allow Facebook to make your data archive. After a while you get a notification to download your data in a zip file.
Click on the blue Facebook icon to see the detailed post.
The downloaded file shows the lists of Music, Books, Movies, Restaurants, and Websites I’ve liked, my family connections, even the close ones, places I’ve travelled in the past, my places checkins, my closed friends who are put on See First View and a lot more.
Access to Friends
Clicking on friend list gives access to all friends, followers I have on Facebook and it is sorted from newest to oldest. Now that is not a problem but the real problem is, Facebook knows everybody you’ve unfriended, and ever friend request you’ve denied.
Almost a year back, Cambridge Analytica issue caused a huge panic on the internet. Facebook, after a lot of pressure from Media and Government issued a way to check if Facebook has shared your data with Cambridge Analytica?.
With this downloaded data, imagine if your data has already been leaked to marketing/advertisement companies or even the Government?
Question is, are we safe on Facebook?. I doubt, I clearly doubt now.
There are some serious doubts about the privacy now on Facebook. Just thinking out loud, why would Facebook even record and store a user information at first place?
I would love to know your answers in the comment section.
