A newly launched Dutch website called ‘PleaseRobMe’ is providing real time information on when someone leaves their home and as such has come under attack by privacy campaigners.
The site takes its information from the Microblogging site Twitter, where people often post details of their whereabouts.
In the Telegraph, Simon Davies, director of the Privacy International campaign group, said the website’s creators had “failed in their duty of care”.
“It is completely and totally irresponsible,” said Davies.
“They have raised a poignant and important issue about what people disclose on the internet but they could have done this so much better. They could have left out the details of people’s addresses.
“What they have actually achieved is providing a one-stop-shop for burglars rather than achieve their goals, which are to raise awareness.”
“They make a legitimate point on the sort of information people put online about themselves. However there are ways of making those points” he adds.
The founders of the site maintain they are merely highlighting the potential danger of putting certain information on a social networking site.
“The danger is publicly telling people where you are. This is because it leaves one place you’re definitely not… home” it says on the website.
“So here we are; on one end we’re leaving lights on when we’re going on a holiday, and on the other we’re telling everybody on the internet we’re not home.”
True, we’ve all become a bit blasé about what we choose to tell the world, it’s kinda normal now. Crimestoppers, however, is advising people to think carefully about what sort of information they choose to share with the world on the internet.
“We urge users of Twitter, Facebook or other social networks to stop and think before posting personal details online that could leave them vulnerable to crimes including burglary and identity theft” a spokesman told the BBC.
“Details posted online are available for the world to see; you wouldn’t hang a sign on your door saying you’re out, so why would you post it online?”
The founders are lapping up the publicity. “Hi there, all we can say is wow. The amount of attention we’re getting is amazing” they say on their site. “It’s great to see that the website has been picked up by so many awesome blogs, news providers and people out there, who got our point perfectly”.
Yes we get it.
