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Facebook's Lack of Privacy Can Keep You Safe

Wednesday 6 April 2011, 2:32PM

By Jayride

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Auckland, New Zealand, 4/04/2011

Websites that capture personal details from Facebook ensure their members are real and trustworthy: New Zealand carpool website shows how it’s done.

Facebook’s lack of data privacy has enraged governments and civil rights agencies worldwide, but there is another side to the coin. Availability of personal information online can help people to stay safe, and Australasian internet users are jumping at the possibility.

These findings from Australasian carpool website, Jayride, where Facebook authentication is helping users know who to trust when meeting in person for the first time.

Many websites help people with like interests to connect with each other for the first time. Jayride is similar, helping people to form carpools to save money and reduce their environmental impact. However: Getting into a car with a stranger can be tough.

“People are concerned about their safety. Even more so than their privacy,” says Rod Bishop, Co-founder of Jayride, “That’s why we’ve gone to the lengths we have”.

Jayride’s latest release uses the Facebook Graph API to validate its member’s information.

“Essentially we check everything a member has told us against what they’ve told Facebook. If it checks out they get a special “trusted” status, letting other members know they’re a real and trustworthy person,” says Bishop.

“No one does more to guarantee data authenticity than Facebook. We harness that.”

Once Jayride has validated a member’s personal information through Facebook, it keeps the information carefully under lock and key. But members don’t seem put off by the possible privacy issues.

“We’re careful to explain at all times what we’re accessing and why. People are rightly concerned about their privacy, but when they realise that this little piece of information will help to keep them safe, they’re happy to opt-in. “

“It turns out: People value their safety higher than their privacy.”

The proof is in the implementation. In the two weeks since Jayride has launched its Facebook trust system, its rate of new user sign ups has jumped by 200%.

“Facebook really is a game changer. And with carpool matching safety, we’re really showing how the public nature of Facebook can be used for good.”

Jayride is New Zealand and Australia’s carpool and rideshare travel community. Jayride connects drivers and passengers to fill spare seats, saving users money, emissions and more. Jayride has 5,000 members and over 9,000 rides currently available across A/NZ.

Learn more at www.jayride.co.nz and www.jayride.com.au