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Spokeo is a social network aggregator web site 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, 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 their 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.

History

Spokeo was founded in 2006 by a group of Stanford graduates. It was initially developed as a social network aggregator similar to FriendFeed 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 web crawlers to aggregate data, automating a process that would take months to complete manually. 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, providing ease of use atypical of other people search websites.

All Spokeo searches are conducted in real time. Unlike conventional search engines Spokeo does not pre-crawl the Web, but retrieves content in real time as it is searched. Although users have to wait longer to retrieve the data, it is more up-to-date.

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.

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

In 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. 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 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. 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 compliant 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 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

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. Other users have found it easy to deactivate results pages for their names. Since mid-April, Spokeo has fixed most of the bugs, making opt-out a one-step process. (Note: AOL users may not receive a confirmation email from Spokeo to complete this process. If this happens, try an alternate email address such as Hotmail.) Although Spokeo prevents users from removing listings belonging to aliases, friends, or family members, in bulk to prevent spambots, the site allows for users to email URL requests to their customer service email.

Premium Subscription

Spokeo offers paid subscriptions that bundles extra features into one package. Premium features include phone and email 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.

References

1. "Clearing the Air". May 12, 2010.
2. "Keep Your Info Private Online". Kansas City News Story. April 29, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
3. "Spokeo About". Spokeo. February 20, 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
4. "Spokeo.com - Scam or Search Engine". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
5. "Catching Up". Retrieved 30 April 2010.
6. "Spokeo - the 60th Most Popular Search on Google". Retrieved April 14, 2010.
7. "Search for Friends". Spokeo. February 5 2008. Retrieved April 20 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
8. "Get The Scoop On People With Spokeo". TechJaws.com. August 15 2009. Retrieved April 20 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
9. "Spokeo, the Big Brother of social networking". Pandia Search Engine News. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
10. "Some personal info will always be on Web". East Valley Tribune. June 13, 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
11. "CBS47.tv - New Website Sparks Privacy Concerns". April, 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. "WILX.com - What Does Spokeo Say About You?". April 7, 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
13. "People Against Spokeo". Retrieved April 15, 2010.
14. "Spokeo Privacy FAQs". Retrieved July 5, 2010.
15. "Complaint to the FTC in the Matter of Spokeo" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2010.
16. "Class Action: Internet Search Engine, Spokeo, Publishes False Information About Millions of Americans". Retrieved July 21,2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
17. "Spokeo - Remove a Listing". Retrieved April 5, 2010.
18. "Removing Personal Information from Spokeo.com is easier than you think". Retrieved April 14, 2010.
19. "Premium Packages". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
20. "Internet Products and Services". Retrieved June 2, 2010.

External links

• Spokeo.com

• Internet properties established in 2006