X-10, a seller of electronic gizmos, offers customers a 15% discount if you “like” them on Facebook.
Once you click the “like” button, a pop-up is revealed indicating what X-10 wants in return for giving you a 15% discount:
*MOUSE PRINT:
So, if you click “allow”, you are agreeing to give them your name, username, picture, list of friends, access to all your profile information, along with permission to write on your Facebook wall, send you junk mail, and review your data even when you are not online.
Seems like a pretty serious invasion of privacy for a lousy 15% off. I say, no deal.
X10 isn’t the only one guilty of this. Pretty much all apps on facebook get those permissions when you install them. So if you already have tons of apps on your facebook account, this might even be a better deal (since you get 15% discount)
This is just the tip of the information/personal data rip off. Next thing it ends up in a “secure” site that is hacked and anything can happen at that point. In the last three months I have received several emails from contacts who have changed their email since it was hacked which explains the proliferation of spam I get. Two commented that it was their Facebook account.
The trick is, print the coupon, then go into your Privacy settings and remove the app.
If you really wanted the coupon, you could create a fake profile.
X10 is a pretty scummy company with a well known history of spamming, advertising on shady web sites, and proliferating malware. I expected nothing less from them.
Choosing whether or not to trade loss of privacy for a discount is up to the individual (I wouldn’t) but X-10 should be applauded for clearly disclosing what will happen if you click “Allow.” Informed consent is a good thing. The FTC has been flooded with complaints from people who’d accepted a money-off coupon at checkout and whose credit cards were subsequently charged with bizarre difficult-to-unsubscribe, negative-option subscriptions buried in the coupon’s fine print. X-10’s disclosure is exemplary.
@anonymous
Um, that isn’t x-10 warning you of what will happen, it is facebook.. So x-10 is still a scummy site.. If it were up to x-10, you would probably see no warning at all..
@ 9, I missed that, thanks for pointing it out. So much for staying safe on the net! 🙂
Facebook LIKES are a great way to get a coupon or discount. And after you have it, just delete them! It’s a great tactic for saving money or getting free things. I did this for a free bottled water on FB. I love to find a good deal.