Never mind that his campaign website is a virtual knock-off of Facebook.com.
Chris Kelly, Facebook’s former chief privacy officer who is now running for California Attorney General, is not taking it easy on his former employer.
Candidate Kelly today used strong language to distance himself from Facebook’s recent changes and said that if elected he would hold the company accountable if it violated state laws.
“Facebook’s recent changes to its privacy policy and practices with regard to data sharing occurred after I left the company,” Mr Kelly said in a statement.
In particular, Mr Kelly called out Facebook for its new “instant personalisation” service, which automatically shares user information with outside websites. “I strongly encourage Facebook to structure all its programs to allow Facebook users to give permission before their information is shared with third parties,” he said.
Mr Kelly’s remarks echo the sentiments of four US senators who yesterday attacked Facebook’s “instant personalisation” plan and called on the company to streamline its privacy policies. The senators zeroed in on the necessity for users to opt-out of Facebook’s data sharing plans, rather than allowing them to opt-in.
Users (and voters) are easily riled up when they feel their privacy has been violated, so it’s not surprising that in this election year, politicians are are doing their best to look like public guardians. For its part, Facebook maintains that its new features do not compromise user privacy, and that it is in fact giving users progressively more control over their data.
Mr Kelly also said that if elected, he would not pull punches with Facebook. “When I am Attorney General, Facebook, like every company, will have to comply with its obligations to adhere to the law, provide truthful information to consumers and to keep its promises about their privacy rights,” he said. “Any company that breaks the law, including Facebook, will face the full extent of the state’s prosecutorial powers.”
Mr Kelly joined Facebook in 2005 and was a key executive during the company’s rapid growth. He took a leave of absence in August to pursue his campaign for Attorney General, and officially left the company in March.
STATEMENT FROM CHRIS KELLY, CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
April 28, 2010
I’m proud of the work I did at Facebook to make the Internet safer and more secure. Because of Facebook and my work there, the Internet is a safer and more secure place today than when I joined the company.
Facebook’s recent changes to its privacy policy and practices with regard to data sharing occurred after I left the company. My principle for evaluating these changes in the law enforcement role of Attorney General will be based on the same views of consumer protection that I upheld when I represented Facebook — do they meet the requirements of consumer protection law by giving users meaningful control over their personal information?
I strongly encourage Facebook to structure all its programs to allow Facebook users to give permission before their information is shared with third parties.
When I am Attorney General, Facebook, like every company, will have to comply with its obligations to adhere to the law, provide truthful information to consumers and to keep its promises about their privacy rights. As Attorney General, I will represent the citizens of the state of California to protect consumers from fraud and other corporate malfeasance. Any company that breaks the law, including Facebook, will face the full extent of the state’s prosecutorial powers.
To learn more about Chris Kelly’s candidacy, please visit: www.kelly2010.com or www.facebook.com/chriskelly.
