Gosh, yet more privacy breaches...

[telophase]

If you're on Etsy, you may want to check your privacy settings. Short version: they rolled out a new function to make Etsy work more like a social network, which includes letting YOUR REAL NAME, if you've put it in, and ALL YOUR PURCHASES, if you haven't opted out of that, show up if someone searches for you.

I've only ever bought catnip eyeballs and a vintage toast rack on Etsy but I'll be damned if THEY get to make the decision to let that be public. (Luckily, I hadn't ever bothered to fill out my profile, so they didn't have my real name. I'm "telophase" on there also, and haven't really tried to hide the connection between my online presence and my real name but IT'S THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING, DAMMIT)

Comments

[tessercat]

Gah! Thanks for the heads-up.

No real name here, either, but SERIOUSLY PEOPLE. STOP IT. >.>

[emceeaich]

I've just fired a message to their VP of Engineering, who is an acquaintance.

I'll emphatically add that it was probably a decision above or out of his purview, but $DEITY $INTENSIFYING_EXPLETIVE $MESSIANIC_TITLE on a $TRANSPORTATION_DEVICE, whomever thinks shopping is "social" needs a $CLUE_DELIVERY_DEVICE $DEPLOYMENT_METHOD from $LOCATION.

[emceeaich]

So, Kellan says that "etsy has always worked this way."

I'm going to have to dig up more info.

[telophase]

Hrm. Well, my Etsy buying history, which had been (unknowlingy on my part) public until today, is *not* on Google, unlike the woman in the article. So ... dunno?

[tessercat]

Nicely said! :)

[onthehill]

UGH! AND UGH AGAIN!
Thank you for posting this!

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks. Privacy settings now updated. Sheesh.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Opt-in is one thing, but opt-out is another. Man, I've gotta stay on top of Facebook for that; I don't want to have to do that for others sites as well!

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thanks for the heads-up.

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Is there something in the water? Jeez, do not be like Facebook, Etsy!

[matildarose.livejournal.com]

Did.... Etsy not learn from Facebook at *all*?

[cawingcrow.livejournal.com]

Eeek, only ever bought a spindle on there, but still quite annoyed. Fixed now, thanks!

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up!

Dear websites: STOP THAT.