geekosystem

In this world where online privacy -- or more accurately the lack thereof -- is becoming more and more of an issue for many, there is no lack of complaints, but a distinct lack of solutions. One man thinks he has the way to put an end to this. Nicholas Merrill wants to start an Internet service provider with one thing at the forefront of its policy: Respecting user privacy. By means both technological and policy related, Merrill's in utero service would fight tooth and nail to keep its customers information from getting into the hands of anyone who doesn't need to see it. With bills like CISPA on the horizon, he could stand to find quite a few customers.

Facebook is notorious for wanting to keep its hooks in you. You'd be hard pressed to get Facebook to delete the media and information it already has about you, and likewise, while you can "deactivate" your account, you can't "delete" it. In fact, you can deactivate and reactivate you account on a whim as many times and as often as you please. That may sound useful, or even convenient, to those of you out there who are both impulsive and indecisive. This ability can be dangerous however; account deactivation can be used to spy on other Facebook accounts from the shadows by using accounts that don't appear to actually exist.