Report: Facebook to add location features

They'll open up satellite stores across America where you can come to buy Facebook t-shirts, Frisbees, and all kinds of propaganda. Next thing you'll know, Facebook will 'take it up a step' by having you pay a small nominal fee for their real-time location device. That involves coming to one of their shops, and having a GPS locator chip surgically implanted inside of your body. Once implanted inside of the body, anyone will be able to get onto Facebook and 'ping' your chip...and see exactly where you are in the world without having to actually require you to Facebook it. How cool would that be? More importantly, how much time would that save you by not having to type in the words ‘at home’. Woohoo!!

No.

Yea, let's make it public that you're away from your home opening yourself up to thrives breaking into your home. Why don't we just post signs in our front yard that says, "I'm not home, rob me...and you can confirm it on facebook!"

The last thing I want to do (besides give out my SS#) is to tell the world that I'm not home right now.......go and rob me

This can be a foolish thing to use. There's already a web site in the NYC area called burglarizemenow or something like that. They post names and addresses of people who use twitter to announce to the world that they are not home hence making it safer to burglarize their homes. In weighing the security of my home and value of my possessions against feeling the need to tell people where I am there is no contest. There are other considerations- are you telling the world your kids are home alone? Or your significant other in alone? I'm sure for many it will be harmless, but you can bet your last dollar that criminals will use this feature to their advantage. maybe my age is finally showing, but I can't understand why anyone would think they are so important they need to announce every thought they have, every place they are and everything they are doing to some cyber-entourage. The truth is most people are quite boring and lead boring, uneventful lives. Perhaps that's what fuels this obsession to follow and be followed. Regardless, I guess I will remain old-school and continue to believe my life, my activities, thoughts, and where-abouts are no-body's business.

Talk about scary...way too many ways to pin point a person, especially for stalkers or anyone desperate enough to find you

Pretty sure this isn't going to work, since it'll be a privacy issue and the thing about letting people know you're far away from home will allow people to invade your home without knowing it. but i'm sure user will be able to turn it on and off after a few complains.

While I enjoy updating my friends and aquaintences about what's happening in my life if I want to let them know where I am at any given moment that is my business, but to broadcast that information to everyone seems dangerous.

Google Buzz already has that feature. Whoops. Sorry that you're so behind the times, Facebook.

http://www.jpriceisright.blogspot.com

Worst idea ever!

Okay but does it verify that location information (city, state, country)? It does similar checking on our identification why not verify our location and then say -VERIFIED- or –UNABLE TO VERIFY-. If the user is going to supply a location the city, state and country should be verified, I wouldn't expect them to verify BURGER KING, PIZZA HUT, KFC, DENNY'S, ... but the city, state and country verifiation would be nice.

NO, I don't like it. What about those who travel and have safety concerns about people knowing they're not at home?

I have a feeling this might turn out bad. A crazy jealous ex might find someone...

Anyone who thinks this is a good idea needs to check this out.......
http://pleaserobme.com/

I do not like this feature of telling people where I am.

This is NOT a good idea. It not only is a violation of privacy, but could also provide sophisticated thieves valuable time to break into a home. If this is implemented, I better have the option to disable it.

This feature was in the original version of facebook. It would list where you last logged-in from. So if you were at a dorm, it would actually list the name of your dorm.

NO! I don't need salesmen SEEING where I live and going where I go! It's bad enough they still call me during my dinner, spam my email and my phone!

On top of that, who else see's this location stuff? Psycho's with nothing to do but scour the net for vulnerable people to harass?

I do not agree with this feature. With the recent reports of the wisdom of not telling people when you will be out of town on Facebook, having this feature will essentially do the same thing, without your permission. Unless this is locked down tightly by security features, and not just that only your "friends" can see it, then I think this feature will actually not be helpful to Facebook users.

I can see the usefulness in this idea, so long as it is an optional feature. What I don't like, however, is the problem that arises with the advertising. I already don't like that words that appear in my profile, or that I've searched for, trigger advertisements when I visit Facebook. I'm not sure I like the idea of my location being yet another way to be targeted by advertisers.

I think it would be nice – sort of like bright kite, but more widely used.

Isn't the location features what Google got so much negative publicity about for Google Buzz?

So is the Facebook Big Brother watching us now? If I'm not out with some friends, that means I probably don't want them knowing where I am at. This software is becoming too sophisticated.

I do not think that this is a good idea, if I want people to know where I'm at, I will call and tell them. This is just an open invitation for theives to find houses that are vacant.

What's the big deal? You can probably turn the feature off, or only allow your friends to see it. Yes there's a security risk because of course the information will be accessible by advertisers, and anyone hacking in could gain access to. But how is this any different that someone Tweeting their location????

Okay, most of you already tell people when you're away from home. If you use your cell phone to 'update' your status. Guess what? Your status will show that it was updated via cellphone.

Another good reason to stay off of Facebook.

I think I will post that I'm out of town and then I'll stay up late with my shotgun in my lap waiting for thieves to arrive... hehehe...

People already post stuff like "in line at starbucks on 56th street" so it seems kind of redundant to me. The people who do that already will use it, the people who don't won't.

If it's a user option, I think it would be OK.

Expect stalking cases to jump.

The scary part is even if you don't broadcast your location, one of your stupid FB friends would.

Tim, what you said was stupid and I hope you feel stupid for saying it. Like every other feature on facebook, you will probably be given the option of not having it show off your location. Also, the facebook store idea is just ridiculous and I wont have it.

Facebook is becoming far too intrusive and needs to back the F off.

If you guys have people as friends on Facebook that would rob or stalk you...well I recommend you reconsider who you add.

This is plain stupid, like everyone else is stating lets just announce to the world when were not home,,not to mention the fact that there is so many sicko's out in this world today lets make it easier for them to target their victim.

Hey how about thinking about the SAFETY of your users.

If you want to know where I am...ask! Otherwise leave my whereabouts to me.

The original incarnation of Facebook had a similar feature to this that showed what network you were logged into (aka John Doe is logged into Hillcrest Dorm network or John Doe is logged into off-campus network). It disappeared when Facebook was opened to non-college users.

Over the next 25 years, the illusion that you have even this modicum of privacy will be laughable. As technology progresses, and we become further and further intermeshed within its fabric, concepts such as privacy, even individual identity are all going to be dramatically redefined.

Besides, if a would be burgler wanted to case you, they have much more effective ways of doing so then monitoring your Facebook status.

I think I will cancel my Facebook account (friendster, myspace already closed). I don't like how these services are dominating more and more of our lives. Now current location?? That's enough for me–I am outta here!!!

10 years ago I was excited about the internet and the possibilities it presented. I could talk to anyone from anywhere (provided they were connected). And I did that. I'm sure thats still possible but it's nowhere as easy as it used to be. There are commercials everywhere. And now it's even getting scary. Dissapointing.

ummm... no way... so all those crazies can go rob my house knowing I'm not home.. there needs to be a limit.. if someone wants to know where I am, they can call my cell phone..its almost like those shows on TV that state, how the FBI works, or AirForce 1 and its inner workings.. the line needs to be drawn ...at least somewhere.

NO! I do not like the idea of everyone knowing where I am at
all times. If this goes through, I will remove myself from Facebook.

I remember this feature being on the original version of facebook. I also remember being glad that it went away.

FB is playing with fire.
Look how MySpace has ended up–all over the news a few years back for hazing, child abductions, etc.. FB is going to start allowing location access telling everyone on YOUR friends list where you are.

You ARE able to set your profile to PRIVATE.
You ARE able to choose who sees certain things.
More than likely YOU WILL BE able to disable it–it would be a stupid move on FB to not.

They would lose a ton of users due to parental control over their kids. People who already post their location don't see a problem, if someone was going to rob you and/or stalk you, they wouldn't really need to know your location if they are already doing it.

I guess that I'll stop using Facebook now...

http://www.facebook.com/RobertYoung72?ref=profile#!/group.php?gid=384533326753&ref=mf

Agreed with others...while this may be "cool" I do not want people to know that I am not home, and that my wife and kids are! Or if we're on a family vacation. I appreciate the ability for Facebook to wait to post our photos upon our return to share our experience AFTER we're home.

I am going to hook my GPS up to my account and it will auto update where I am every 5 minutes

Of all the comments posted here I must say the one by Tommy Boy is the most entertaining and a breath of fresh air. The whole idea of location services is madness but the way Tommy Boy responded to it was peerless...Welldone TB

insert meme: you gonna get raped

what a dumb idea. i better make sure my rediculously naive niece does not use this feature...

Not a safe, nor smart idea. Keep your location private.

I think it wil be set up like the google, with city and state...Even with that being said...I think its to much info..hope I can turn it off!...or bye FB for me!

If you want someone to know where you're at just call them on the phone and relay it to them. No need to advertise to people you barely know your private location.

First we have to worry about 666, then the chip to be implanted in our hand that we can't buy or sell without, then FB wants to charge $3.99 and now this. Where will it all end?? Maybe install Onstar and carry around a black box. But then you would have to tie it into FB somehow. It is getting way too complicated and technical for my brain..................

Not at all.

No one has mentioned what this could do to employees who are out playing golf or having a pedicure while "working from home."

Oh great let's tell the pedophiles where our children are. Now with Google Street View and Facebook location crap they can zoom in on our house and see our backyard for crying out loud. Does no one else see the danger in this?

I was the victim of a stalker (not an intimate, but a coworker) and if facebook does this, they need to explain to people, specially young kids, how to deactivate it. I think this is a HUGE invasion of privacy. There is a lot of crazy people in the world and this will only give them more information on potential victims. I for one have a FB account but this man found it and send me 15 messages in one night! I setup all my settings to private after that but it was scary. Imagine what it would be for a person to be able to locate another thru FB. It is way too easy. I totally disagree with this feature.

It seems many of the commenter's here do not use FB, already hate FB or don't know squat about how it works. The story says a user can add it to their status... it's an OPTION people. Further more, if you want your damn profile and info available to the public, that is YOUR choice. You want your ex to know your continued business or some crazed stalker, that's UNDER YOUR OWN control. It really is sad how many people are so vocal about something they can control over yet have no idea how to work it.

PS – I know everyone on my friends list very well and that is over 150. If you are friends with people "you hardly know", then that's your own fault for having an ego that wants a high number. Jeeesh.

[...] Llegir article (he triat el del blog Scitech de la CNN per la seva brevetat i perquè fa referència a diverses fonts) [...]

No! I would log off facebook, this is not a good idea.

Ubertwitter for Blackberry already has this feature, which when you set it, updates your status messages with a GPS fix from your phone

http://bgds2wiodmmss.com

Does anyone see the writing on the wall? BIG BROTHER for not just your friends but for strangers and who only knows... Why do people want people to know where they are and what they are doing all the time? You never know who can get ahold of this information and use it in the present or the future. Haven't we gone far enough? People now post they are going the drive thru ordering a cheeseburger for cryin' out loud. I guess now we will just know which burger joint it is... and maybe there will be some advertising on the side of the page, of course. I'll have some french fries on my side and no big brother, thank you very much.

no to this please...

Isn't that another way of saying "look, I'm not home, rob me!" If i want people to know my location I can post it now in my status, what is the point of this feature other than unwanted advertising and risks?

As someone who is a victim of domestic violence and have been hiding from this person since 2003, I find it very dangerous to display where I or my kids are located.

Sounds like a lot of people here with issues with facebook. If such a problem, why have an account?

C'mon facebook, just stick to being to being the annoying replacement of myspace where people just want to post their kids baby pictures online for friends and family across the country and world. Dont try to be so technologically advanced(geeking out really) where its just easier for all the burglars, rapist stalkers, pedophiles etc out there to do their twisted things. The social network concept is inheritedly flawed anyway with "cyberbullying" and hacking into others accounts. Dont overspoiled to the tenth degree, its bad enough.

..this is a TERRIBLE invasion of our rights and privacy in the name of gleaning market share and making money ...our very SAFETY and that dear to us will suffer for the big business men – WAKE UP AMERICA, please

Only ignorant people can come up with the argument "that just tells people you're not home and then you can be robbed" ...

Sure, maybe for the single people who live alone. Not for many however who live with others, a spouse, who maybe have a guard dog, or home alarm system...

Personally I have 2 pit bulls and an alarm system and I live with my boyfriend. So good luck getting into my house when I'm not at home.

Yes. This is also a great way for people to stalk you, burglarize you and kill you. What a great idea. Morons. Will the lunacy never end?

Hey–with this installed one will be able to find their runaway Toyota with the stuck gas pedal.

For those of you worried about being robbed, I have to ask – why would you "friend" somebody who you were worried about robbing you? If you are one of these people out there naive enough to have your facebook wall and profile open for all the world to see, you get what you deserve. Otherwise, nothing to worry about. Besides, I imagine this will be an option you can turn off/on and not have to participate if you don't want to.

WHY, is it that important where people need to know where you are a any given time, and let the whole world know too. Give me a break ,some people need to get a life.

Very BAD idea! Creepy & scarey!

It's a very cool feature – love the techie aspect of it, but won't turn this feature on my FB account. Figure that I should have some privacy in my life, and if I want everyone to know where I am then I will tell them!

[...] Facebook to add real time location features? [...]

It already exists now with apps such as Yelp and Gowalla. As long as it's up to the user to advertise where they are.

This new chip won't open anyone up to having their home robbed if they’re smart. Think about it, when your on facebook you choose who to accept as your friends, at no time do you have to make your address public to anyone on FB, and if someone robs your home cause they see that due to a tracking device your not home. They had to know where you lived to begin with...that means you were robbed by a personal friend of yours who knew where you lived BEFORE any tracking device offered by FB...that's your fault if you keep friends with people who would rip you off. that means they were going to rob you weither FB was tracking you or not, heck they could have called you on your cell and said “hey, what you doing right now, let’s meet up for a drink or a movie” to find out if your out of your house or get you to come out of the house! and if you know how to work your privacy settings than you would know the general public doesn't have to have any access to your page/wall to see weither your home, not home or any your FB wall post. So everybody take a deep breath and unclench. It’s simply a matter of common sense to keep yourself and your property safe on Facebook or any other social networking site!

lots of twitter apps already do this. turn it off and forget about it. who cares.

The purpose of Facebook is to talk with your friends or people that you already know, not complete strangers. So, if Facebook did go to this format, we would be telling our FRIENDS(not strangers) where we are at. More than likely, they already know anyway. If someone is in fear of their friends knowing where they are, or breaking into their homes, then they need to rethink their friend selection

I'll be leaving Facebook.
Thank you very much.

As long as users have the choice to reveal or not their location and to whom, it sounds great to me.

Da chance cme at ma doorstep..no i wont let it go

I am not able to view this website correctly on saffari I feel there is a downside

when you click on the sponcered add for a shooting game(actionfightinggames.com) it takes you to a adult site my kids have clicked on the game and taken to a adult site this needs to be taken care of these kids do not need to see this i do not need to see this they are trying to fool people by saying they are a action game when all they are is a porn site this will not be tolerated

your kids or you likely clicked on a malware as. FB is rife with things like giving away IPads to bogus friend requests from real FB users.

here's my advice to people using FB-

#1) every single game and application from the "pick a name"villes to the 20 Questions to See yourself as a cartoon drawing to "Create a Cause" all have EULAs (end user license agreements) that grant the sponsor access to all you pictures and wall posts and personal information. most of the time it results in SPAM or ads tailored to your profile. What people fail to realize is that these EULAs supersede any privacy settings you have. Some people don't care; some do. I do not participate in ANY of the FB apps much to the chagrin of some of my friends.

#2) Unless you are 100% certain never click a link to FB from ANY notification from FB, be it friend request or other notice, that arrives in your email! people's names get hijacked and will get sent out as friend requests, messages, etc and when you click on them you will either get a fake log-in page that you'll enter your user ID and password into and it won't work. your ID and password have just been stolen. if that doesn't happen you may find yourself linked to anything from a cell phone company trying to get you change your service (the recent FB/Apple iPad giveaway had one such link) to a porn site to who knows what. Always, always, always open a browser window and type facebook.com and log-in that way. any real messages and requests you have will be listed at the top bar in the little cloud looking things. if it isn't in there, it isn't real.

#3) there are several well written guides to FB privacy settings with explanations and recommendations available free on-line. find one, download it and READ it! print out a copy so you have a reference handy when you go into FB to make changes. many settings are hidden in that they are not intuitive to find and many you can easily find are NOT clearly labeled. it is really worth spending some time just poking around and seeing what you can click on and where it leads to under the account and privacy settings.

FB has taken a lot of heat in the past for just doing things and expecting people to opt out rather than opt in. i'm writing this on 6/16 and it was last week FB got in trouble in Europe because they enabled automatic tagging of people in photographs using face recognition software. what this dos is when somebody posts a picture it is scanned by the facial recognition software and names are tagged to the picture automatically. it doesn't go back through pictures posted before it was enabled, but the idea is saving users the hassle of manually tagging people in their photos. FB just turned it on and expected people who didn't want to be automatically tagged to opt out. (i'm not sure how since just a name isn't specific enough. i wonder if a photo must also be supplied?) this feature was introduced in the US some months ago but is was something people had to turn on.

that still worries me because i wonder if someone is at a public event and is taking pictures if people in the background will be recognized and tagged in photos of people they don't know. and how accurate is it? suppose spouse A goes and visits her sister one night and a person who looks remarkably similar gets photographed during a night on the town with a person of the opposite sex and the person in the photo is tagged as Spouse A when it was no. there is an additional feature that alerts users to photos in other people's pages that they are tagged in. i also now it's common for people to put names in pictures that aren't in the picture for whatever reasons. a "wish you were here" or "thinking of you" maybe. I also looked for a privacy setting after hearing of this tagging thing that would prevent people from tagging me in pictures but there is none. again, i don't know how it really could be prevented.. my family have pictures of me in their FB pages where i am tagged and they have friends who i don't know who have access to their FB pages, but i don't share mine with them.

it really does pay to keep up with FB and changes they make. i would recommend getting a free subscription to ZDnet which is a computer and technical blog and may not be of interest to everybody. They do get the jump on stories about technology and have reported on every change and issue that has arisen with FB since there was a FB. they also have several of the great FB privacy setting instructional booklets i mentioned earlier. even if you just scan it for articles about FB and delete it if there's nothing, the time or two they DO carry something will inform you of what's going on and what it really means.

i apologize for the length of this, but based on the comments i read people are either short sighted, think everyone is just like them, or are just plain uninformed. i hope this straightens a little of that out.