In the News
Is Facebook in hot water once again? In Lawmakers want to question Facebook about the privacy of groups, Colin Lecher at The Verge discusses concerns about the confidentiality of information shared within ‘closed’ Facebook groups, often relating to health and medical information. Lecher explains that while Facebook is taking steps to secure such groups further, there are still many concerns over the general data security within such groups and how the labeling of these groups may have misled Facebook users. Lecher states that Facebook responded to such a claim by emphasizing that their platform is centered around ‘real-name identity.’
Our Take
Medical information and information about your health is considered highly sensitive information very similar to your finances. Keeping this information secured and private is of crucial importance. However, social media has brought about the popularity of support groups for various health and medical conditions that have induced sharing of such information. When utilizing such resources, it is essential to keep in mind the platform used. It is necessary to think about the size of the group, how secure it is, and how personal the information being shared is by members. Social media platforms have not historically been the most secure for user information, so keeping this in mind before you share will help protect your privacy.
Recommendations
How can you protect the privacy of your personal and medical information?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Refrain from sharing highly sensitive information such as financial and medical information through messaging apps and online groups
- Always utilize encryption when sending contents with confidential information
- Use safe password practices on all of your accounts, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Use privacy settings on your accounts when they are available
- Know your rights when it comes to data use and storage