Who Owns Your Data? (hint: you do)
Data portability is on a lot of people's minds right now. You don't need to be an A-list blogger trying to export your massive friend list to know that your address book is your own, nor to recognize that toting around your network can be cumbersome. You shouldn't have to reinvent yourself — and rediscover your colleagues — over and over again.
At LinkedIn, we've always believed that users should own and control their data. And we've walked the walk by offering one-click export of your connections to .csv and .vcf since 2004; using microformats since 2006 to mark up your contacts with XFN + hCard and service provider recommendations with hReview; and in early 2007 we released the first major hResume implementation. It's not just open formats either. Last year we started building APIs and a developer platform which will soon include support for OpenSocial applications.
LinkedIn is committed to helping professionals be more productive in their everyday work life. These technologies are among the powerful tools that enable us to do this. So it makes sense that we would support efforts like DataPortability.org and Social Network Portability. We’re happy to share what we’ve learned along the way with the community and look forward to learning from the experience of others.
At the same time, we firmly believe in users' rights to privacy, not only when it comes to who has access to their data but also by which means and for what purpose. Accepting a connection from another does not and should not grant them carte blanche to collect and keep your information for their own purposes — and we know that. And as we join this new conversation, we promise to continue to keep privacy firmly in focus.
Kin Lane Jan 10, 2008
Your guys rock. Addressing this issue is so huge. Not only have you guys been building in data portability since the beginning you guys are embracing platform access through your API development and OpenSocial adoption which really empowers us developers.
I think it is great that you guys openly support this as well as actively communicate with us about it.
Nothing sucks more than feeling like we are just ignored by facebook. An essential aspect of Web 2.0 is enabling and joining the conversation, not talking down to your customers or ignoring them completely.
Thanks so much you guys.
Luigi Montanez Jan 11, 2008
Your joining up with the DataPortability movement is terrific, as have been your implementations of Microformats. But I was wondering if you could expand on:
Accepting a connection from another does not and should not grant them carte blanche to collect and keep your information for their own purposes — and we know that.
In my opinion it depends on what the data is used for. I have no problem with contacts of mine saving my contact info into their personal address books. I do have a problem with contacts selling my contact info to any third party.
How do we go about enforcing such privacy measures?
Steve Ganz Jan 11, 2008
@Luigi, I think your question illustrates the importance of maintaining a strong network by only connecting with people that you have a comfortable level of trust with.
In a very practical sense, it is up to the individual to take ownership of who they are giving their contact info to, just like we do in real life. Those who connect with just about anybody and focus on quantity over quality should remember that they are giving contact info to people they probably haven't built any level of trust with.
Thom Jan 12, 2008
Steve,
Good Job. It's great to see you guys adhere to these standards.
It's up to the providers like Linked-In to offer more granular tools to help control who has access to data. It's not the real world to think that I have the same type of relationship with everyone in my network and thus everyone has the same access to my data.
There are friends in my network as well business associates, people I know thru other people. I have different types of networks; I might belong to a soccer team or another group that doesn't really need my professional information.
Time and circumstances also change the desire to share my data. If people are looking for work, then they are likely to be more open to communication from some people than when not. Or I might be willing to talk to real estate people if I'm looking for new office space but I don't need to contacted until then.
With more control over my data, the network becomes more useful to me and I use it more.
BTW, I really like the groups feature. Looking forward to seeing the API.
Karthik Chandramouli Jan 14, 2008
OK, but when I ask your Customer Service why I can't export my Other Contacts along with my Connections, I received a disappointing response (see below).
The "can-do" response would have been, "We don't currently have that functionality but it's on our feature list roadmap and will be released in February."
For users who can't program, there should be an easy way to construct a query or use your API to do what they need to with data portability.
This should be an easy feature to add with support for one-click download of all contacts.
Lame customer service answer below...
from LinkedIn Customer Service
date Jan 11, 2008 1:10 PM
subject Re: I have a customer service issue (KMM2742686I88L0KM)
Hi Karthik,
Thank you for contacting LinkedIn customer support. "Other contacts" are not included in the CSV file listing, because these contacts are only generated from your address book. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you,
NAME DELETED BY ME
Customer Support Professional
Original Message Follows:
------------------------
I would like to export my Other Contacts to a CSV file but I don't see this option at the bottom of the page. I am able to do so with My Connections but I also would like to have all my contacts exportable so I can synchronize them with my Outlook.
How do I do this? Thanks!
924771-11999131521
F
Steve Ganz Jan 14, 2008
@Karthik, thanks for the feedback.
I wish I could tell you that we we'll have the .CSV export for Other Contacts in February, but it's probably going to take a little longer than that.
The good news is, if you use the Firefox web browser, you can essentially accomplish what you want today. All you'll need to do is download and install the Operator toolbar. Like your LinkedIn Connections, your Other Contacts are also marked up with the hCard microformat. Operator allows you to export them to your address book in .vcf format.
In the mean time, I will pass along your feedback to Chris Richman who is the Product Manager for Other Contacts. I know he has a long list of enhancements that he's working on and we'll make sure to get your request on the list.
Juan Pablo Gómez Jan 15, 2008
I'm just can't wait for use the API of linkedin. When it will be ready?
Cesar Mar 26, 2008
If I own the data, why don't you cancel my account, which I requested to no avail in three tickets so far?
[Ticket: 080325-002976] March 25th
[Ticket: 080319-000012] March 19th
[Ticket: 080315-000021] March 15th
The company should be called ChainedIn
Mario Sundar Apr 2, 2008
@juan, our API integrations with partners continue to happen. You may have read all about it on recent blog posts.
If you'd like to participate, feel free to email developers@linkedin.com
@cesar,
I understand your frustration. The CS team is constantly dealing with an overwhelming number of requests as you can imagine. Nevertheless, I'll escalate your request to the right person within CS. Feel free to contact me at msundar@linkedin.com if it isn't resolved yet.
Micky Mighty Jun 23, 2008
Interestingly, the article "Who Owns Yr Data" does not not say openly = "We do not use or sell your data". Words are used to imply that, but not openly STATE that. Eg
"Your address book is your own" - we all know that it is. This does not mean you can't or won't steal it.
At LinkedIn, we've always believed that users should own and control their data. - this doesn't mean you don't control our data too.
we firmly believe in users' rights to privacy -- Doesn't say you will respect them.
we promise to continue to keep privacy firmly in focus -- keeping something in focus doesn't mean you intend to safeguard our rights even from yrself.
From your note, it is plain to see how gullible you think we users are (which most may well be, which explains yr succcess. You use the English language to mask your real intent which i suspect is to control and profit from a powerful next work which we the unsuspecting public will keep fresh and active for you.
I know, i'll never be welcome in your network after this but guess what? I'd rather not be,
Micks
PS. I dare you to publish this note. :)
Steve Ganz Jun 25, 2008
@Micky, in hindsight, it would have been a good idea to provide a link to our privacy policy, which begins:
We hope this addresses your concerns.