A formal complaint filed by the FTC on Monday alleges Jerk.com and its proprietor/ Napster co-founder John Fanning took personal data from 73 million Facebook users, called them "jerks" and then tried to charge them $30 to dispute whether or not they were, in fact, jerks. It was a dick move of tremendous proportions.
The site, which is now a website that is somehow even more juvenile, was the brainchild of John Fanning, whose nephew Shawn Fanning notoriously invented Napster, only to be screwed over by John when Napster sold out to BMG. With a plotline like that, it's no wonder these guys Game of Thrones.
According to the FTC, Jerk.com lifted data from Facebook and reposted it to Jerk.com. The site would then charge a $30 membership fee for access to premium features like actually being able to edit comments on the profile they themselves made for you. The FTC called it a "deceptive scheme" and "a brazen attempt" to exploit people who are worried about their online reputations. CNET Explains:
...more than 73 million people, including children, had their personal information posted on Jerk.com between 2009 and 2013. Some of the photos allegedly showed children without consent from their parents; reportedly, there were even photos of children bathing and a mother nursing her baby.The site also encouraged users to post comments on people's profiles, which were said to have had a bullying nature. "Omg I hate this kid he\'s such a loser," one comment said. "Nobody in their right mind would love you ... not even your parents love [you]," read another.
Most of the profiles on Jerk.com were taken directly from Facebook without user's knowledge and would even show up if you were doing a vanity Google search on yourself. It wasn't until 2012 when Facebook noticed Jerk.com was skimming data that the FTC began to look into the violation of privacy.
