Research Paper Outline

Facebook Tracking People through the Internet

       I.          Introduction

a.      Hook: Why allowing a private company to track people on the Internet is bad for most individuals.

b.      Thesis: Facebook tracking people through the Internet, who have logged out of their site and are browsing other sites is an ability that a private company should not be allowed.

c.      A general explanation of how Facebook was tracking people through the Internet.

     II.          Background Information

a.      Explain who found out that Facebook could track people through the Internet.

b.      A general description of a similar case with a different company.

    III.          How Tracking Works

a.      An in-depth description of how Facebook used a certain cookie and the embedded “like” buttons on websites to track people.

b.      More details about who discovered the Tracking.

c.      More details on how the tracking was discovered.

    IV.          In suing Court Cases

a.      A group of statements describing who sued Facebook, and their official charge.

b.      Provide similar examples of other companies that have been taken to court and describe their outcome.

c.      Explain the laws which Facebook violated when they gained the ability to track people through the Internet.

d.      A description what the result of the court case was.

     V.          Facebook’s Public Image And How It Changed Before, During And After The Court Case

a.      A description of Facebook’s stance on the issue before the court case (denial of ability to track/issue).

b.      What changed in their stance during the court case (no much media presence, etc.)

c.      An explication of their stance after the court case (fixed issue and tried to act like they were on the side of the plaintiff the whole time).

    VI.          How Facebook Has Removed its ability to track logged out users through the Web.

a.      An explanation on how the cookie changed to disallow tracking.

b.      A brief description of Facebook’s response to Nik Cubrilovic’s (the original discoverer of Facebook’s ability to track users) inquiry about their modification of the cookie.

  VII.          Lasting implications

a.      A description of what Facebook, society and consumers should learn from this incident.

b.      A description of the legal implications (in the form of possible new laws)

c.      More information on the duty of a consumer to stay informed on the products they use.

VIII.          Conclusion

a.      A heavily modified restatement of why a private company should not have the ability to track their consumers through the Internet.

b.      Any possible reduction in the number for Facebook users because of this incident.

c.      The most important lesson that should be learned from this whole issue.