Bo Jacobson's Posterous

So about.me got bought today by AOL, and today I was discussing the Facebook privacy issues with a colleague, and Apple just made me agree to new terms of service when I updated my iPad OS to 4.2 - this all got me thinking: do we need a new standard for personal data control in social media? 

Okay, so at first read that's a little alarmist right, but hear me out: with it's purchase, AOL gets data on 400,000 about.me users (myself included) who used the service as a hub for connecting multiple social sites. Want to know the overlap among leading edge tech participators and flickr? Curious what percentage of users are representing themselves publicly with a link to their Facebook account? These questions and more can be answered with a peek at the about.me database, which these users freely gave their information to, not knowing it would ever go to AOL. This is a little troubling to me. 

So what would the new model be? I think it would have to be some sort of shared ownership of the data that gave users first right of refusal on access or transfer. In other words, while I would get no say in the sale of about.me to AOL, I would get a say as to whether my data went along with the purchase. I would have the legal right to request that my data not be made available as part of the purchase. This model taken further, companies might have to offer to permanently expunge user data if they change their privacy policy or terms of service. 

Truth be told, I have nothing against AOL. I use AIM for personal and work communication, and I don't have an issue with them getting to see my data in this way. That being said, I do feel a little powerless about how my personal information (usage data, a chosen password, a pretty accurate profile of my digital self) is being handled in this case. 

As some of you know, this past Friday was my last day at Swirl. Being a part of the work and the culture at Swirl was a both an awesome opportunity, and a sincere pleasure for me. And, after a great two and a half years, I'm moving on to take a more senior position at EVB. I'm extremely excited about the opportunity and hope to continue to add value, teach, learn, and grow as I move into the next phase of my career.