[Josy]

Facebook has released a new app that lets people use its service anonymously.


The social network unveiled Rooms on Thursday, a standalone mobile app for iOS that lets users interact on Facebook without using their real names. The aim is for people to feel free to discuss sensitive issues, when normally they would not be comfortable doing so.


A "room" is made up of photos and posts on a single topic chosen by the person who set it up. That person can then invite others to join the room, and all can post anonymously. Colours, icons and cover photos for the room can also be modified to suit the creator's tastes.


Early users have created rooms for beat-boxing videos, parkour and home-cooked meals.


Facebook product manager Josh Miller, who spearheaded the app, said: "There is a good reason in a lot of situations why you don't want people to know who you are and it's not because of something sketchy. We want to give people flexibility because that's what they want."

More at the link

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...onymously.html

[Josy]

Nothing online is truly 'anonymous' IMO.

And this wont end well.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Josy

Nothing online is truly 'anonymous' IMO.

And this wont end well.

True, and... true.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Josy

Nothing online is truly 'anonymous' IMO.

And this wont end well.

Well of course not, facebook still knows who you are (much like on here, if there was a serious incident you can supply the police with the posting IP and through the corresponding ISP they can get a real I. D.)

although... If you know how to use Tor properly you are anonymous for all intents and purposes. someone very skilled could trace you, of course, but we're talking CIA / MI5 level skilled with months of resources here, for tracking down terrorist cells. Not your common or garden "trolls".

[Kazanne]

Don't like the sound of that tbh.

[Niamh.]

Yeah this will just be abused by idiots imo

[Jamesy]

If you invite others into the 'room' doesn't that defeat the object of it being 'anonymous'...

Doesn't sound that good, can't say I'll see it hitting off well.

[andybigbro]

Facebook need to stop trying everything.

Just stick to what they've got!

[JoshBB]

copying the anon feature from tumblr.

[Ramsay]

I don't get it..what does this accomplish apart from encouraging cyber bullying?

[waterhog]

desperate times. bye bye disgrace book.

[lostalex]

misleading title. it's only for specific groups. the VAST majority of people cannot post anonmittlitityhuiobsduokvsb however you spell it.

[T*]

This is going to end superbly

[T*]

can facebook just die now please

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Tom!

can facebook just die now please

delete your account right now.

[Creggle]

Cowards will love this. The kind of people who won't say jack unless they're anon.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Creggle

Cowards will love this. The kind of people who won't say jack unless they're anon.

post your full name and phone number right now. I dare you.

[Creggle]

Originally Posted by lostalex

post your full name and phone number right now. I dare you.

dumb post.

me doing that has nothing to do with abusing people behind anon, people will use this to send abusive messages that they wouldn't dare send, if people could see who they were.

spring.me is a good example of this. facebook was relatively safe from this sort of crap

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Creggle

dumb post.

me doing that has nothing to do with abusing people behind anon, people will use this to send abusive messages that they wouldn't dare send, if people could see who they were.

spring.me is a good example of this. facebook was relatively safe from this sort of crap

so you prefer to be anonymous./ so what i said is very relevant.

[Shaun]

Seems incredibly pointless.

[waterhog]

with all the crimes that happen - do you think the police are going to track everyone that says something that some might be offended by ?

in the case of kate and jerry - shame on anyone who posted anything nasty about them but like i say - it is going to be impossible to stop everyone speaking and saying things weather you agree or disagree as like i say - police are stretched as it is.

if you have the money to fund your own case - thats a different story

[Cal.]

More animal abuse videos than ever, then.

[Kizzy]

There has to be a reason why they've done this, could it be a sting to try trap people trolling, grooming or posting vile pics?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

There has to be a reason why they've done this, could it be a sting to try trap people trolling, grooming or posting vile pics?

Well, they say that the reason is because there are many things - important things - that people won't discuss with their name and personal details on display... Such as victims of abuse, addiction, being the family member of an addict, etc. or even things like people making music or creative writing - who want to share and get feedback but are too embarrassed to do it openly incase people "laugh at them". And for those sorts of things, I can see how it could work. I also don't see how trolling could occur with the way it's described, as groups seem to be invite only so not many should get through, and presumably anyone who does turn out to be a "troll" can be kicked.

What does worry me though, is that it clearly can't be monitored 100% and will rely on people in the groups themselves reporting dodgy activity. Which with it being invite only, is unlikely. Makes me wonder if it might end up being used for dodgier things like "girlfriend porn" sharing, drugs, trading / offloading stolen goods, things like that.

It's unlikely to be used by "paedophile rings" as those are pretty well established on the dark Web with much stronger anonymity. The way the FB thing will work, I would imagine, is that it's still tied to your real account but you make a username specifically for each group and people in the group only see that. I doubt you'll be able to sign up for fully anonymous accounts. Well, no more than you can already, by creating a fake profile.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Well, they say that the reason is because there are many things - important things - that people won't discuss with their name and personal details on display... Such as victims of abuse, addiction, being the family member of an addict, etc. or even things like people making music or creative writing - who want to share and get feedback but are too embarrassed to do it openly incase people "laugh at them". And for those sorts of things, I can see how it could work. I also don't see how trolling could occur with the way it's described, as groups seem to be invite only so not many should get through, and presumably anyone who does turn out to be a "troll" can be kicked.

What does worry me though, is that it clearly can't be monitored 100% and will rely on people in the groups themselves reporting dodgy activity. Which with it being invite only, is unlikely. Makes me wonder if it might end up being used for dodgier things like "girlfriend porn" sharing, drugs, trading / offloading stolen goods, things like that.

It's unlikely to be used by "paedophile rings" as those are pretty well established on the dark Web with much stronger anonymity. The way the FB thing will work, I would imagine, is that it's still tied to your real account but you make a username specifically for each group and people in the group only see that. I doubt you'll be able to sign up for fully anonymous accounts. Well, no more than you can already, by creating a fake profile.

This issue can be addressed by using a fake profile though surely, then you really are anon aren't you?
I didn't say anything about 'pedophile rings' I said grooming, scenarios such as kids being added and chatted to posing as another child, asking for pictures and blackmailing the child if they don't comply.