European regulators eye privacy at Facebook, Twitter - San Francisco Business Times:

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Palo Alto’s Facebook gives marketers access to some data abou users so that they can create applications aimed at them and try to sellthem Europe’s “Article 29 working party,” which oversees privacy, warned that such uses migh t violate European privacy rules. “The personal information a userpostz online, combined with data outlining the userx actions and interactions with other people, can create a rich profil e of that person’s interest and activities,” wrote the advisoryg group in its report.
Privacy watchdogs in the Unitecd States have also called for greater scrutiny and regulation of how populadr social networksprotect (or give away) data about theie users. Facebook has said in the past that the social network industry needs to create guidelines around user data This issue is part of a veryold give-and-take betwee n consumers and people who want to learn about them to target them with advertising. Older, more established industrieds have worked out methods where customerxs give sellers some information in exchangd for discounts orothetr benefits.
The “preferred customer” or “club” type cards that grocert stores use, for are voluntary data disclosure schemes. The working party’s repor calls for greater disclosure by social networks abouy when such data is gathered and how it isgivenm away. “Direct marketing is an essentiap part” of social networks’ businesd models, the report says, but uses of personal informatiomn must comply withEuropean regulations. Since socia networks are widely used by thereport says, special care must be taken to ensure that kids who aren’tf old enough to legally consent to such voluntary data disclosures schemes are protected from them.
The report also raises questionsz about retention of data on people banned from using varioussocial networks.