Just because there are barriers to doing something right doesn’t mean that thing is not worth doing. Privacy is clearly a stumbling-block, but it’s not a reason to drop the idea completely.

There is not much to stop them from doing this now. The difference is that they use the networks themselves to spam everyone. Data portability has to be an opt-in policy as well. If you do not want your email address shared with everyone, then that should be allowed and the default. I do agree that data portability does make the spammers job easier if everyone shares their data with them. I know that some level of configurability and security is being considered in the data portability group.

Also, thank you for saying privacy was adeptly skirted. At least I did that well

If you liked Facebook Beacon…you’ll LOVE Data Portability….

Every spammer in Eastern Europe and the Caribbean is hoping this keeps gaining steam! They’ll be the first to flirt and sucker their way to 1000+ “friends” on every network they can, and will happily copy all their info into a database which they’ll begin selling ASAP.

Hooray for idealists!

You said exactly what I was trying to say, but in a much more succinct manner. Thanks for that.