Facebook escorts users even when they're off the social grid?

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that has charged Facebook with pursuing activities during the web browser on the part of users even after they have been released from the social network page.

The plaintiffs claimed that Facebook used the “ ” buttons found on web sites and others to find out which pages they have visited, which means that the company from Menlo Park, California, could build detailed data on their browser history. The plaintiffs argued that this Facebook behavior violated federal and state laws on privacy and surveillance.

Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, dismissed the case because he said the plaintiffs failed to show they had a reasonable expectations of privacy or suffered any real damage or loss.

Davila said the plaintiffs could have taken steps to keep their private browser stories, for example using the digital Adverting Alliance utility, or using “the record”, and also failed to show that Facebook” illegally examined”.

When a user visits a page with an attachment “ ” button, the web browser sends information to both Facebook and the server on which the page is located.

The fact that a user browser automatically sends the same information to both sides does not confirm that one party has stopped communicating with another,” said Davila.