Assessment status:
Facebook has failed the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.facebook.com
Assessor: kbrooks
Closed on 15/11/2007
Scheduled for re-assessment.
Facebook has failed the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.facebook.com
Assessor: kbrooks
Closed on 15/11/2007
Scheduled for re-assessment.
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking website aimed mainly, but not limited to, College & High School Students. The site has more than 60 million active users (including non-collegiate members) worldwide. It is the number one site for photos in the United States with over 60 million photos uploaded weekly.
CRITERIA
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
The site has a very strong viewpoint against racial bullying and discrimination. And promises to remove any group, post or person who violates the site rules. Sadly this is not fully enforced, as shown by a simulation I ran the past week. [more later on]
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
The site has a very strong viewpoint against racial bullying and discrimination. And promises to remove any group, post or person who violates the site rules. Sadly this is not fully enforced, as shown by a simulation I ran the past week. [more later on]
CRITERIA
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
The same simulation was conducted for this criteria, with more or less the same results. Alternatively a group was created promoting cybersex and other harmfull content. This group is yet to be removed.
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
The same simulation was conducted for this criteria, with more or less the same results. Alternatively a group was created promoting cybersex and other harmfull content. This group is yet to be removed.
CRITERIA
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
The site does not posses any viruses or malware, but they do allow the use of unscrutinized second party applications. Some of these apps use your profile to advertise itself and send unsolicited messages and emails in your name. This has happend more than once to myself during the testing period, aswell as others, and can be easily proven. The messages that serve as advertisements will not appear within your own inbox, but will appear to have been sent by you. Second Party software allowed on the site leaves huge doors open for identity theft and harvesting.
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
The site does not posses any viruses or malware, but they do allow the use of unscrutinized second party applications. Some of these apps use your profile to advertise itself and send unsolicited messages and emails in your name. This has happend more than once to myself during the testing period, aswell as others, and can be easily proven. The messages that serve as advertisements will not appear within your own inbox, but will appear to have been sent by you. Second Party software allowed on the site leaves huge doors open for identity theft and harvesting.
CRITERIA
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
I couldn't find any evidence of this happening, but my findings shouldn't at this stage be seen as conclusive.
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
I couldn't find any evidence of this happening, but my findings shouldn't at this stage be seen as conclusive.
CRITERIA
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
The only advertisements that may be a cause of concern for parents of young children is gambling etc. but these do not pose a real threat, seeing as they have their own ways of keeping children out. [*note links to second party application sites though, which might affect this criteria]
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
The only advertisements that may be a cause of concern for parents of young children is gambling etc. but these do not pose a real threat, seeing as they have their own ways of keeping children out. [*note links to second party application sites though, which might affect this criteria]
CRITERIA
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
The site's privacy policy states" "We may use information about you that we collect from other sources, including but not limited to newspapers and Internet sources such as blogs, instant messaging services and other users of Facebook, to supplement your profile." and "We may share your information with third parties, including responsible companies with which we have a relationship." This should be real cause for concern in itself. Also, Facebook.com is a trustee accredited site, but if this is the standard trustee is willing to accept, I must admit, I'm truly shocked.
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
The site's privacy policy states" "We may use information about you that we collect from other sources, including but not limited to newspapers and Internet sources such as blogs, instant messaging services and other users of Facebook, to supplement your profile." and "We may share your information with third parties, including responsible companies with which we have a relationship." This should be real cause for concern in itself. Also, Facebook.com is a trustee accredited site, but if this is the standard trustee is willing to accept, I must admit, I'm truly shocked.
CRITERIA
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
The site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy is easily located at the bottom of each page, accompanied by other usefull links, such as Help, About etc.
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
The site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy is easily located at the bottom of each page, accompanied by other usefull links, such as Help, About etc.
CRITERIA
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
Each post is accompanied by a Report link, which allows anybody to report a post or group without much hassle.
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
Each post is accompanied by a Report link, which allows anybody to report a post or group without much hassle.
CRITERIA
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
For this criteria I ran a simulation, which ran over 5 days. The simulation included posts violating every aspect of this criteria [aswell as Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/enorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites] and was conducted within a group setting (full permission was obtained from the group administrator). The group admin and other users lodged complaints, via the Report button located with every post. The posts we're not removed by Facebook staff for the full period of 5 days, after which they were removed by the group admin himself, for obvious reasons.
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
For this criteria I ran a simulation, which ran over 5 days. The simulation included posts violating every aspect of this criteria [aswell as Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/enorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites] and was conducted within a group setting (full permission was obtained from the group administrator). The group admin and other users lodged complaints, via the Report button located with every post. The posts we're not removed by Facebook staff for the full period of 5 days, after which they were removed by the group admin himself, for obvious reasons.
CRITERIA
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
CRITERIA
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
