Spokeo
Encyclopedia
Spokeo is a social network aggregator
website that aggregates data from many online and offline sources (such as phone directories, social networks, photo albums, marketing surveys, mailing lists, government censuses, real estate listings, and business websites). This aggregated data may include demographic data, social profiles, and estimated property and wealth values.
All data collected by Spokeo is publicly accessible from its original sources. According to the site, Spokeo does not originate data and information available is only as good as its source. The information available originates from information people provide that becomes public information “even if a person isn't on Facebook
or Twitter
.” Some users reported problems with removing their listings, and some independent reports verified that the removal process was "spotty." Since then, Spokeo launched the 4th major revision of its website on March 1, 2010 and announced in mid-April that these bugs were resolved. The extent and types of information available through the redesigned site have led to controversy resulting in increased internet traffic.
On November 17, 2010, Spokeo 5.0 was released. Spokeo 5.0 implements graphics, icons, and a new design intended to present information in a more visual way. The future plans for Spokeo 5.0 include adjustments to the design and new interactive elements.
On December 27, 2010, Spokeo released Username search. Spokeo username search scans across social networks, blogs, photo albums, dating sites, music networks, video sites, ecommerce stores, and other web services in real-time to help find online profiles with similar usernames.
that allowed users to keep track of their friends' status updates on multiple websites.
In 2008, Spokeo redesigned the website by changing the interface to allow for easier searching. Under the revision, users could import contacts from email address books and create "Friend Lists" that provide updates to recent profile changes for public profiles. Information reflected friends’ updated blogs, video playlists, and photo albums. As a techjaws.com article pointed out, this feature allows a user to start browsing immediately without any "tedious set up." Pandia Search Engine News wrote: "It was a real eye opener when I saw all the content that Spokeo came up with on my friends and contacts based on nothing but my Gmail address. Here are Flixter movie ratings, Pandora play lists and Last.fm favorites, Flickr and Picasa photos, twitter posts, Vox blog entries (along with uploaded videos, images etc), Digg and Stumbleupon reviews, LinkedIn information, MySpace posts, Slide.com uploads, Amazon.com wish list items and more."
crawlers to aggregate data. The technology reduces data acquisition costs and provides the information free of cost. Spokeo's search algorithm allows users to search by name, then state, and city and organizes the results by location.
On Facebook
in particular, several users complained on the "Spokeo" message board that the website was a violation of their privacy, and new groups were started to demand an end to the service.
Several of these users claimed that information set to private on Facebook and other social networking accounts was still appearing on Spokeo's website. According to Spokeo's Blog, whenever content is changed from public to private, Spokeo will automatically detect and reflect this privacy change the next time it re-crawls content.
On June 30, 2010 the Center for Democracy and Technology
filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
alleging that Spokeo.com violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act
by offering credit ratings without any of the controls mandated by the act. Additionally, they alleged that Spokeo.com engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act
. On July 7, 2010, Spokeo released a blog titled "Spokeo Responds To CDT’s Complaint."
On July 20, 2010 a class action lawsuit was filed against Spokeo.com seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages for the alleged violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
.
On January 12, 2011, Spokeo released a blog explaining how their opt-out system works. According to the company, when a listing is opted out, a permanent flag is placed on the listing so it does not reappear on Spokeo. However, if a person moves to a new address, or if there are significant typos which prevent Spokeo's computers from matching an existing listing, new listings may appear.
Spokeo's Premium membership features a tracking system. After an account is added to a Friends list, Spokeo regularly checks for new updates from the account, providing a notification in the update counter to allow users to keep track of new information.
Social network aggregation
Social network aggregation is the process of collecting content from multiple social network services, such as MySpace or Facebook. The task is often performed by a social network aggregator, which pulls together information into a single location, or helps a user consolidate multiple social...
website that aggregates data from many online and offline sources (such as phone directories, social networks, photo albums, marketing surveys, mailing lists, government censuses, real estate listings, and business websites). This aggregated data may include demographic data, social profiles, and estimated property and wealth values.
All data collected by Spokeo is publicly accessible from its original sources. According to the site, Spokeo does not originate data and information available is only as good as its source. The information available originates from information people provide that becomes public information “even if a person isn't on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
or Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.” Some users reported problems with removing their listings, and some independent reports verified that the removal process was "spotty." Since then, Spokeo launched the 4th major revision of its website on March 1, 2010 and announced in mid-April that these bugs were resolved. The extent and types of information available through the redesigned site have led to controversy resulting in increased internet traffic.
On November 17, 2010, Spokeo 5.0 was released. Spokeo 5.0 implements graphics, icons, and a new design intended to present information in a more visual way. The future plans for Spokeo 5.0 include adjustments to the design and new interactive elements.
On December 27, 2010, Spokeo released Username search. Spokeo username search scans across social networks, blogs, photo albums, dating sites, music networks, video sites, ecommerce stores, and other web services in real-time to help find online profiles with similar usernames.
History
Spokeo was founded in 2006 by a group of Stanford graduates. It was initially developed as a social network aggregator similar to FriendFeedFriendFeed
FriendFeed is a real-time feed aggregator that consolidates the updates from social media and social networking websites, social bookmarking websites, blogs and micro-blogging updates, as well as any other type of RSS/ Atom feed...
that allowed users to keep track of their friends' status updates on multiple websites.
In 2008, Spokeo redesigned the website by changing the interface to allow for easier searching. Under the revision, users could import contacts from email address books and create "Friend Lists" that provide updates to recent profile changes for public profiles. Information reflected friends’ updated blogs, video playlists, and photo albums. As a techjaws.com article pointed out, this feature allows a user to start browsing immediately without any "tedious set up." Pandia Search Engine News wrote: "It was a real eye opener when I saw all the content that Spokeo came up with on my friends and contacts based on nothing but my Gmail address. Here are Flixter movie ratings, Pandora play lists and Last.fm favorites, Flickr and Picasa photos, twitter posts, Vox blog entries (along with uploaded videos, images etc), Digg and Stumbleupon reviews, LinkedIn information, MySpace posts, Slide.com uploads, Amazon.com wish list items and more."
Technology
Spokeo utilizes deep webDeep web
The Deep Web refers to World Wide Web content that is not part of the Surface Web, which is indexed by standard search engines....
crawlers to aggregate data. The technology reduces data acquisition costs and provides the information free of cost. Spokeo's search algorithm allows users to search by name, then state, and city and organizes the results by location.
Trivia
The name of the website was coined by Harrison Tang and his co-founders when they were students at Stanford in 2006. “Spokeo” is a made-up word that is a metaphor for a wheel’s ability to connect in a circular way. Spokes, or the rods radiating from the center, or hub, of a wheel, forms a circle. Similarly, the name is designed to reflect how people can become more interconnected by using the website.Privacy and safety concerns
On Spring 2010, Spokeo released version 4 of its website. Shortly thereafter, CBS47.tv, which serves the Fresno, California viewing area, aired a short piece on Spokeo outlining local law enforcement agencies' concerns that the site would enable cyberstalking. They reported that credit information was being included in some online profiles and that Spokeo had recently removed a feature that provided photos of private residences. (As of Sept 16, 2011, Spokeo still shows photographs of some private residences). Search results on Spokeo offer to provide a "Credit Estimate" and "Wealth Level" information, as well as information about a target's mortgage value, estimated income, and investments. In an interview with Michigan-based WILX-TV Spokeo's founder, Harrison Tang, said that credit information is not actually available through Spokeo.On Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
in particular, several users complained on the "Spokeo" message board that the website was a violation of their privacy, and new groups were started to demand an end to the service.
Several of these users claimed that information set to private on Facebook and other social networking accounts was still appearing on Spokeo's website. According to Spokeo's Blog, whenever content is changed from public to private, Spokeo will automatically detect and reflect this privacy change the next time it re-crawls content.
On June 30, 2010 the Center for Democracy and Technology
Center for Democracy and Technology
The Center for Democracy & Technology is a Washington, D.C. based 501 non-profit public-interest group that works to promote an open, innovative and free Internet....
filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
alleging that Spokeo.com violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a United States federal law that regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information. Along with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act , it forms the base of consumer credit rights in the United States...
by offering credit ratings without any of the controls mandated by the act. Additionally, they alleged that Spokeo.com engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act
Federal Trade Commission Act
The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 started the Federal Trade Commission , a bipartisan body of five members appointed by the president of the United States for seven-year terms. This commission was authorized to issue “cease and desist” orders to large corporations to curb unfair trade...
. On July 7, 2010, Spokeo released a blog titled "Spokeo Responds To CDT’s Complaint."
On July 20, 2010 a class action lawsuit was filed against Spokeo.com seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages for the alleged violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a United States federal law that regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information. Along with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act , it forms the base of consumer credit rights in the United States...
.
Removal of personal information
The Spokeo website contains an opt-out form (accessible from the "Privacy" link on the bottom of every page) that allows users to prevent specific Spokeo pages from displaying search results for their names, phone numbers, or email addresses. The removal of email address search results was implemented by Spokeo on April 19, 2010, and the removal process is the same as that for name and phone listings, although some Gmail users initially complained that the system malfunctioned when they entered their addresses. While it is possible to block your listings from being displayed on Spokeo, they will not be removed from the original sources.On January 12, 2011, Spokeo released a blog explaining how their opt-out system works. According to the company, when a listing is opted out, a permanent flag is placed on the listing so it does not reappear on Spokeo. However, if a person moves to a new address, or if there are significant typos which prevent Spokeo's computers from matching an existing listing, new listings may appear.
Premium Subscription
Spokeo offers paid subscriptions that bundles extra features into one package. Premium features include name, phone, email, and username search, and an import feature users can utilize for email address book and social network contacts. Prices range from $14.85 for a three-month subscription to $35.40 for a year-long subscription. All searches include monthly quotas. The company provides business services, including search result data augmentation, CRM and ATS integration, E-commerce customer demographics, and custom projects and consulting. It supports various data sources including social networks, photo albums, music playlists, video sites, business databases, and RSS feeds. Concerns have been raised about the accuracy of these services.Spokeo's Premium membership features a tracking system. After an account is added to a Friends list, Spokeo regularly checks for new updates from the account, providing a notification in the update counter to allow users to keep track of new information.
Further reading
- "Online Safety", Greater Boston, WGBH-TV, Wednesday, May 11, 2011