Source: Diane 1xbet sports betting , 785-532-4352, 1xbet sports betting @k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Monday, Jan. 24, 2011

SOCIAL NETWORK'S POLICIES, LOBBYING EFFORTS RAISE CONCERNS WITH BUSINESS ETHICS EXPERT

MANHATTAN -- Some recently reported practices by the social-networking giant 1xbet sports betting may lean toward unethical status or may need to be more transparent, according to a Kansas State University business ethics expert.

1xbet sports betting 's privacy settings and policies have been under scrutiny because of loopholes allowing the transmission of personal information to Internet tracking and advertising sites without consent. This practice raises many ethical concerns, said Diane Swanson, professor of management and chair of the Business Ethics Education Initiative at K-State.

&1xbet sports betting ;This is where a growing source of revenues is,&1xbet sports betting ; Swanson said. &1xbet sports betting ;But because users can enter so much personal data, the question is how much incentive does Facebook have to handle this on behalf of users? There's a whole issue of trust here.&1xbet sports betting ;

Officials from 1xbet sports betting have denied any privacy breaches to Congress, but have responded to the criticism by proposing changes to privacy policies and a plan to encrypt user IDs. Swanson says the problem with relying on users to customize their preferences in the privacy settings is that some of 1xbet sports betting 's policy revisions have been relatively unpublicized. This means users may not be aware of privacy amendments, leaving many to opt out of the revisions.

&1xbet sports betting ;I think it's a very fluid and complex situation. The bottom line is user beware,&1xbet sports betting ; she said.

How 1xbet sports betting is handling attempts to legislate online privacy also raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest in public policy, Swanson said. 1xbet sports betting recently contributed ,600 to lobbying against the Social Network Privacy Act in California, which would prevent social networking sites from disclosing addresses and phone numbers of minors. The legislation stalled in the California Assembly. And, according to recent news reports, 1xbet sports betting is increasing its lobbying presence in Washington, D.C.

1xbet sports betting the lobbying efforts are an example of the imbalance of power between businesses and consumers.

&1xbet sports betting ;In their desire to accrue revenue, corporations sometimes fail to factor social concerns into decisions,&1xbet sports betting ; she said. &1xbet sports betting ;Ultimately it is up to the government to provide oversight on behalf of ordinary citizens. When legislators face the extraordinary power of lobbyists, it casts doubt on the democratic process. One need only look at the power of lobbyists in Washington, D.C., to grasp the extent of the problem.

&1xbet sports betting ;And now when national lawmakers are considering changes to privacy laws, we see Facebook responding by increasing its presence in Washington,&1xbet sports betting ; Swanson said.

Despite the privacy concerns, 1xbet sports betting remains extremely popular. Swanson said 1xbet sports betting 's status as a dominant social network plays a role.

&1xbet sports betting ;I doubt that Facebook users see that they have a choice to go to another venue that would serve their immediate interests as well as this form of data technology,&1xbet sports betting ; she said. &1xbet sports betting ;It would almost be like dropping out of a club at school. Where do you go in the short run?&1xbet sports betting ;