Update on removal of social network accounts

Back in January I blogged about online social networks and how difficult it has been for people to remove their accounts. I just came across an article posted on Slashdot that seems to confirm this and more....."Facebook a Blackhole for Personal Info".

The article reports that "While the Web site offers users the option to deactivate their accounts, Facebook servers keep copies of the information in those accounts indefinitely. Many users who have contacted Facebook to request that their accounts be deleted have not succeeded in erasing their records from the network."

'It's like the Hotel California,' said Nipon Das, a user who tried unsuccessfully to delete his account. 'You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.'

"Facebook's quiet archiving of information from deactivated accounts has increased concerns about the network's potential abuse of private data, especially in the wake of its fumbled Beacon advertising feature."

School Chat....
I think the discussion on personal digital footprints, the Internet and the privacy is such an important and vital issue for today's Internet users. This is something that should and needs to be discussed openly in all schools!