Is big brother watching

[Alchemy (Clive)]

I received an email from Facebook today, saying would I like to join up etc etc, as a result of a girlfriend of my wifes obviously having submitted our email address to them..... And wanting us to join her page ..... ( whatever)

So far not thrilled but I can see whats happened. At the bottom of the page it says you may also know this person.... ( mike salway)

Let me clearly state here I am not suggesting any impropriety by IIS or it's proprietors, etc.

How does Facebook link my personal email, with this website and someone on it. To my knowledge other than today to request from Facebook no further spam be sent, I have never been to Facebook. I very much doubt that the girlfriend in question has any knowledge of me here on IIS. I am not aware of me having publicly announced my email on this or any other websites.

Not being a computer tech person it has me wondering, my computers have had up to date virus checkers, and I currently use an iPad for here and email.



Clive

[iceman (Mike)]

I have a personal account on Facebook, Clive - so it's nothing to do with IceInSpace.

Facebook can search your gmail/email contacts for people to 'ask to join facebook' - as was done to you by your wife's girlfriend.

In the past I've done that and it's probably remembered that your email address was in my contact list too, so it's trying to entice you to join facebook because other people in your contact list are also on facebook.

It's not 'big brother' but no doubt Facebook uses whatever information it can in your email list etc to give you 'personalised' information and try to entice you to join.

[Alchemy (Clive)]

I see , that's how it's done....... Nothing malicious, just linking contact lists.

Case closed, thanks for the reply.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

I'm quite amazed at how well some of these sites like FaceBook do at dredging up people you know.

At the same time they choose people for whom you can see no rational reason for them being included.