Communications Minister Stephen Conroy launched a scathing attack on social networking site Facebook and its founder for their ''complete disregard'' for privacy, Fairfax reported.
'Facebook has also shown a complete disregard for users' privacy lately,'' the minister said last night in response to a question from a government senator.
''Facebook, I understand … was developed by Harvard University student Mark Zuckerberg, who after breaking up with his girlfriend developed a website of all the photos from his yearbook so he and his mates could rank the girls according to their looks. An auspicious start for Facebook.''
He then catalogued privacy breaches he says turned the site from one on which people could safely share photos and thoughts with friends and family into one that sought to profit from users' information.
Facebook founder admits to mistakes
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Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said yesterday that the social network "missed the mark" with its privacy controls and will be revealing simpler features in the coming weeks.
"Sometimes we move too fast -- and after listening to recent concerns, we're responding," the Facebook co-founder wrote in a column published on the op-ed page of The Washington Post.
Zuckerberg's remarks are his first public comments since new features added to Facebook last month sparked criticism from US privacy and consumer groups, US lawmakers and the European Union.
The changes, which include the ability for partner websites to incorporate Facebook data, prompted claims that they compromise the privacy of its members.
"The biggest message we have heard recently is that people want easier control over their information," Zuckerberg said.
"Simply put, many of you thought our controls were too complex.
"Our intention was to give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many of you wanted. We just missed the mark," the 26-year-old Facebook CEO said.
"We have heard the feedback," he added. "There needs to be a simpler way to control your information.
"In the coming weeks, we will add privacy controls that are much simpler to use. We will also give you an easy way to turn off all third-party services," Zuckerberg said.
He also stressed that Facebook does "not share your personal information with people or services you don't want" and does "not give advertisers access to your personal information."
"We do not and never will sell any of your information to anyone," Zuckerberg said, adding that Facebook will always remain a free service.
Zuckerberg's column came a day after he acknowledged in an email exchange with a popular technology blogger, Robert Scoble, that the social network had made "a bunch of mistakes."
Conroy attacks Google
Senator Conroy last night also attacked Google for the recent revelation it collected and stored Wi-Fi data when gathering images for its Street View service, Fairfax reported.
He said the Privacy Commissioner was investigating, but would not speculate on whether the company had breached telecommunications laws.
