SILICON VALLEY, CA – The social network PhoneBook has come under increasing pressure from privacy advocates to overhaul it’s ‘deeply flawed’ privacy controls. PhoneBook is a stalwart in the social networking space and is often credited for inspiring today” most popular communication platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and the bathroom stall that double as phone sex directories. However, it’s privacy policy has caused outrage for exposing personal details like names, phone numbers and addresses. Though it doesn’t expose embarrassing photos of drunken nights with strangers. The head of the network has said he understands the concerns over privacy and is considering a number of options to improve this aspect of one of the biggest socials networks, including making use of the latest invisible ink technology.
Our correspondent has more on this fast paced world of social networking technology.
Chief Correspondent: Martin, I’m just looking at my PhoneBook profile now. I never realised it was so open.
Technology Correspondent: Most people hadn’t, but as I speak thousands of users are deleting their profiles, ripping out pages left and right for the sake of privacy.
Chief Correspondent: What is it that has them so worked up?
Technology Correspondent: A recent breach of the service allowed an anonymous user to get the home phone number of another user not listed as a ‘friend’ to make unsolicited prank phone calls. It’s this kind of devious misuse that has privacy advocates riled.
Chief Correspondent: How did they get the details so easily?
Technology Correspondent: We’re told it was as easy as flicking through the pages, picking out the most humorous name.
Chief Correspondent: You’d think the team at PhoneBook would have caught such a glaring security hole before it became big news?
Technology Correspondent: Well it’s news now. The technology behind the service is extremely old, referred to as web 0.2 here in the Valley. There are really no privacy settings to speak of at all.
Chief Correspondent: What have the PhoneBook team had to say?
Technology Correspondent: The CEO of PhoneBook has acknowledged the problem and has assured users via a hand written letter that his team are working hard on a patch to the service. After the recent privacy scares out of Facebook and Google Buzz, his team are really feeling the heat.
Chief Correspondent: Some are saying that this could be the end of PhoneBook, that they don’t know how to innovate anymore?
Technology Correspondent: It’s true that they’ve been around for some time and haven’t had a major update for decades. This could be the final nail in the coffin for the network, I for one have deleted my account and know many people that just don’t trust PhoneBook anymore.
Chief Correspondent: This sounds like something we’ll have to keep an eye on.
Technology Correspondent: Yes, they’ll have to act fast or they could end up less popular than MySpace.
Chief Correspondent: That would be a disaster. Keep us updated Martin.
Funny stuff, I particularly like the web 0.2 line. Keep em coming.