The article quotes privacy expert Daniel Solove, who has written that the way that Facebook uses the ‘Become a Fan’ feature is actually against privacy law in all cases:

Suppose Michael Jordan says on national TV that he likes Wheaties. Does this allow Wheaties to use his image on its cereal box or in a commercial? The answer is no. The fact that Jordan says he likes Wheaties can be used in a news story; it can be used in a biography of Jordan. But it cannot be used in a commercial advertisement.

By extension, Solove argues, if Michael Jordan decides to ‘Become a Fan’ of Wheaties on Facebook, that information cannot be used in a commercial advertisement either – but on Facebook, it often is.

A need for privacy, however– also listed by psychologist Gary A. Davis as an attribute amongst creative people– seems much more dubious, particularly in the age of Facebook.  In fact, as it pertains to creativity, nobody’s discussing the matter at all.

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Across the pond, the BBC reports that membership lists for the extreme right-wing British National Party have been leaked, and that members now face threats.

Both Prop 8 supporters and BNP members are targeting minority groups, but do they deserve to be able to do so in privacy? Or is this kind of transparency a necessary check on the politics of hate?

Tour riders are contracts that musicians send to venues ahead of their appearances there so that the promoters can prepare the artists’ needs. Dick Cheney’s relatively spartan tour rider forms the basis for Jennifer and Kevin McCoy’s piece Vice Presidential Downtime Requirements; Rihanna’s hospitality needs are significantly more… specific.