Facebook Denies Giving User Data to NCPO: Rights Group

[webfact]

Facebook Denies Giving User Data to Thai Junta: Rights Group
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer


Image from an official security bulletin published in Thai by Facebook on Monday.

BANGKOK — Facebook today denied providing Thailand's military government with access to its users private communications, according to a New York-based rights group, as the social media giant seeks to reassure Thai users their data is safe.

Following a week of panicked speculation by some netizens, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that the social media giant has not given away any account details to the military regime, according to Sunai Phasuk, a researcher for the group in Thailand. It also published a Thai-language security bulletin Monday urging users to use its security features.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1462856025


-- Khaosod English 2016-05-10

[Hawk]

The NCPO certainly seem to be getting help from somewhere, as their computer guys are not that smart.

[WhizBang]

Well the military are gaining access somehow. I think they now need to provide an explaination to the Thai people. Not that I think they will.

[RIJoe]

FB may not be sharing data, but netizens are. If a profile is not locked down using privacy settings, the public can see it. Anyone can search for someone else's page.

[heybruce]

Isn't it possible that "friends" of the posters are reporting anti-junta posts to the authorities?

[SoFarAndNear]

What they need hackers for? Most Thai FB users share everything of their life already by themselfes.

[sjaak327]

FB may not be sharing data, but netizens are. If a profile is not locked down using privacy settings, the public can see it. Anyone can search for someone else's page.

Yes, but in this case, it isn't about public posts, but private chat messages exchanged between two people, both currently being charged with LM.

Private messages using Facebook's messenger system are most definitely not public, so only the two persons exchanging the message can see it (unless it was exchanged using a chat group, in which case all the group members can see the messages).

So either Facebook delivered the data (which they now denied) OR the junta stumbled upon a logged in messenger session of one of the two charged with LM.

I bet we will never hear how exactly the 'evidence' was obtained..

[KhunBENQ]

So either Facebook delivered the data (which they now denied) OR the junta stumbled upon a logged in messenger session of one of the two charged with LM.

How many users of smartphones, PCs, tablets/laptops are security aware?

They switch on the device.

It logs in automatically without password entry!

They start the browser, open facebook and login was saved (again no pw. entry necessary).

The browser saves the passwords in clear text. Not much expertise necessary to look up.

In short: every fairly educated user who gets hold of "such a device" for a minute or two can look on the facebook site, can lookup saved passwords etc.

Leave your smartphone unlocked on the table when you are with "friends" and visit the restroom.

That's enough.

Latest trick:

can I see your smartphone, want to compare the handling?

Fiddle around with WhatsApp ("under the table") to see a QR code, do a photo of it (with your smartphone).

That was it with WhatsApp encrypted privacy!

Go to your PC, feed the QR code to some WhatsApp site and impersonate. 100% control.

All called "social engineering".

Watch out for devices anytime and learn to lock them up!

Shut up in the internet!

Do pictures of your somtam!!!!

One on one talk in safe places!

[chainarong]

Unless you use the security selections correct anybody can access a site , all you need to do is nominate close friends only and that will only let your nominated friends to checkout your site , if you have anybody that's what is means anybody including Prayut - O - Cha , all these selections are at the top r/h side.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[tompelli]

FB may not be sharing data, but netizens are. If a profile is not locked down using privacy settings, the public can see it. Anyone can search for someone else's page.

Yes, but in this case, it isn't about public posts, but private chat messages exchanged between two people, both currently being charged with LM.

Private messages using Facebook's messenger system are most definitely not public, so only the two persons exchanging the message can see it (unless it was exchanged using a chat group, in which case all the group members can see the messages).

So either Facebook delivered the data (which they now denied) OR the junta stumbled upon a logged in messenger session of one of the two charged with LM.

I bet we will never hear how exactly the 'evidence' was obtained..

Here's a clue: Government website with a "fake" FB login button, apparently taken down a couple of times by FB when they found out.

[wabothai]

of course they deny

[heybruce]

I wouldn't be surprised if FB had turned on some dissidents to break into the China market. I can't see them doing it, and bringing on all the bad publicity, to accommodate the Thai government. I suspect the people taken in for FB posts are careless with security or made a poor choice of friends. Not that that makes the junta's actions acceptable.

[candide]

There are plenty of ways to spy on Internet traffic if the telecom operator lets you do it....

Edited May 10, 2016 by candide

[KhunBENQ]

I doubt both arguments about a "fake" FB site (man in the middle) as well as the general spying on the line.

They would be better than the NSA to crack the security mechanism (encrypted traffic, site certificate).

I am convinced there are much simpler "traditional' methods like paid snitchers, unnoticeable break-ins and the simple ignorance/unawareness of the users.

Ask former East-German Stasi experts about traditional methods.

Bringing down FB is possible of course as a last resort if they panic (as in the past).

Edited May 10, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[arrowsdawdle]

FB may not be sharing data, but netizens are. If a profile is not locked down using privacy settings, the public can see it. Anyone can search for someone else's page.

Don't be too confident that Facebook, which was originally funded by DOD and CIA, is squeaky clean.

Today it is on the news that Facebook has fudged trending data to support Democrat interests and may also have suppressed GOP content.

Former Facebook employees claim the company censors conservatives.

[Squeegee]

Even so, these kinds of headlines are very bad for the junta.

That old This new social media chestnut again, this time touching a raw nerve for the population and attracting more pesky outsiders and their "Human Rights."