Co-developer of the World Wide Web discusses Facebook and privacy
April 30th, 2010 by Wendy McAuliffe
I’ve just come across a fascinating interview with Robert Cailliau, a Belgian computer scientist who, together with Sir Tim Berners Lee, developed the World Wide Web almost 20 years ago. The video was taken by Robin Wauters for Techcrunch.com, during The Next Web conference that has taken place in Amsterdam this week.
If you’re short of time, scroll to the 5.38 mark where Robert explains why he’s not on Facebook, and offers his view on how social networks need to change their position on privacy.
In regards to Facebook, Robert says: “I can get in, but I can’t get out. I don’t know what happens to my data.”
He also goes onto talk about Skype which apparently refused to take his identifier off once he closed his account. “You have no control. You cannot buy something a la carte. You have to agree to the whole block and go in and be bound hands and feet to their terms of service, which is something that I think has to change…we should seriously look at all of these social networks.”
Tags: facebook, privacy, Robert Cailliau, skype, Techcrunch, the next web, tim berners lee
May 1st, 2010 at 4:07 pm
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May 1st, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Thanks Wendy - I met Robert at the World Wide Web Days at CERN, Switzerland in March 1994. He talked with vision and care about the explosive commercial potential of the Web but was quietly adamant about his lack of interest in pursuing a business focus from his work. His views are timely and very welcome. A great man.
May 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
[...] Co-developer of the World Wide Web discusses Facebook and privacy | Online PR and social media agenc… [...]
May 5th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Fascinating post - do need new ways of thinking about identity, http://www.doclorraine.com/uncategorized/privacy-identity-and-status/