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Merryshroomer
Fellow forager


Registered: 12/21/19
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Loc: Dorset, United Kingdom
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Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms?
#26537792 - 03/16/20 02:29 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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I've got a friend who I've been sharing mushies with for a while now, he's cool. Recently I sent him a few messages about my current batch to keep him in the know via Facebook Messenger. Just to be clear, this was normal messages, I didn't know you need to manually select end-to-end encryption.
I thought it was all private. However, last night I sent him a short video clip of the grow and it was intercepted by FB servers. I know it was intercepted because it wasn't sent and now I can't remove it, it has a red exclamation mark and I can only save it. I've never seen this on any other Facebook message.
So I hit the web afterwards (albeit too late) and found out that FB Messenger isn't private at all. Turns out, they can share your data with the police and use AI to flag/block suspicious messages.
Obviously I'm not going to use it anymore, but I'm wondering if it's time to ditch the harvest and clean out my stuff? What are the chances I'll get a knock at the door over this?
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Peyote Road
Stranger

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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Merryshroomer]
#26539798 - 03/17/20 01:10 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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I don't know about the UK in the USA you'd be unlikely to get a knock on the door.
-------------------- The path of the herbalist is to open ourselves to nature in an innocent and pure way. SHe in turn will open her bounty and reward us with many valuable secrets. May the earth bless you. - Michael Tierra
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Enlil
OTD God-King



Registered: 08/16/03
Posts: 65,470
Loc: Uncanny Valley
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? (moved) [Re: Merryshroomer]
#26541077 - 03/17/20 03:58 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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This thread was moved from Political Discussion.
Reason: Belongs here
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Mr Solo Dolo


Registered: 02/24/19
Posts: 243
Loc: U.S
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? (moved) [Re: Enlil]
#26541087 - 03/17/20 04:03 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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I wouldn't worry about it.. never heard of anyone going down like that.. yet
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  LIFE'S A TRIP..  
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InsultingLizard
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Merryshroomer]
#26542268 - 03/18/20 08:39 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Merryshroomer said: Turns out, they can share your data with the police and use AI to flag/block suspicious messages.
What this means is that if the cops come asking, FB is going to share whatever data they have on you. For example, if you get busted for manufacturing and you've been talking on FB about selling, they could use that as evidence to tack on more charges. It doesn't mean that FB is going to invest any resources into trying to find people talking about drugs. Think about it, what incentive would FB have to devote resources (be it personnel or computing) to cooperate with law enforcement to such an extent?
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: InsultingLizard]
#26542348 - 03/18/20 09:37 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
InsultingLizard said:
Quote:
Merryshroomer said: Turns out, they can share your data with the police and use AI to flag/block suspicious messages.
What this means is that if the cops come asking, FB is going to share whatever data they have on you. For example, if you get busted for manufacturing and you've been talking on FB about selling, they could use that as evidence to tack on more charges. It doesn't mean that FB is going to invest any resources into trying to find people talking about drugs. Think about it, what incentive would FB have to devote resources (be it personnel or computing) to cooperate with law enforcement to such an extent?
I mean if you get caught manufacturing. They can automatically add distribution charges just based on the weight even without any evidence of a sale taking place in most states its just an amount or weight that makes it PWISD. but i still get your point. What i dont understand is why people post pictures on FB with their real name. All it would take is someone who knows you to contact the police. And if you live in a state that cares i imagine theyd be able to get a warrant based on that alone.
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InsultingLizard
Stranger

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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Anonymous #1] 1
#26543553 - 03/18/20 09:43 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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The simple answer is that people are stupid and aren't always aware of the risks they're taking when they upload information. I mean, OP here realized that it's bad that E2EE is off by default, but most users don't even realize that private messages aren't really private without E2EE. Most of them don't have anything to hide anyway, but the ones that do are equally unaware.
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Babylon
Shaman


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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: InsultingLizard]
#26560297 - 03/27/20 12:44 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Anything on facebook, including messenger, should be assumed to be public, as in accessible to google and other search engines. It's not likely any cops are paying attention, so you should be ok, but definitely don't even talk about breaking the law on facebook, and very definitely don't send videos of yourself doing so.
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Darwin23
INFJ



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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Babylon]
#26562111 - 03/27/20 08:47 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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They won't come after you but it can certainly be used as evidence pretty easily. Signal is a nice secure app that the cops can't get into as far as I'm aware.
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Take a look at my journal
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Brian Jones
Club 27



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Posts: 12,340
Loc: attending Snake Church
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: InsultingLizard]
#26562566 - 03/28/20 05:54 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
InsultingLizard said: The simple answer is that people are stupid and aren't always aware of the risks they're taking when they upload information. I mean, OP here realized that it's bad that E2EE is off by default, but most users don't even realize that private messages aren't really private without E2EE. Most of them don't have anything to hide anyway, but the ones that do are equally unaware.
I particularly liked the first eight words, "The simple answer is that people are stupid". Because that's the first thing I thought of when I read the title of this thread.
-------------------- "The Rolling Stones will break up over Brian Jones' dead body" John Lennon I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either. The worst thing about corruption is that it works so well,
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D3_Myc
Weeb Trash



Registered: 05/06/18
Posts: 4,399
Loc: Year Zero
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Brian Jones]
#26562575 - 03/28/20 06:01 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I used a fake name, vpn, new email and everything on my mush fb. Fb algorithms still associated my accounts. Never safe on social media. If communicating anything personal like your addy or making sales/trades use privnote
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Merryshroomer]
#26562846 - 03/28/20 09:58 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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OP, this sounds much more like a software bug than Facebook flagging your video for illegal content. If it was a child porn video, then maybe. But mushrooms? There's no way they are looking for that.
Also, if this flagging was real and did occur, you would not see anything. No glitch, nothing. Modern wiretaps are completely invisible to both parties, they aren't going to be like GOT HIM! Now we send him a red exclamation mark and prevent him from destroying the evidence!
It sounds like this software bug is causing you significant stress. In the future, I recommend discussing illegal activities only over Signal, and turn on the "disappearing messages" feature, so they are wiped from the devices some time after they are read.
Using Signal won't make you any less likely to get busted than using Facebook messenger, but it will make you less stressed out.
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D3_Myc
Weeb Trash



Registered: 05/06/18
Posts: 4,399
Loc: Year Zero
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Alan Rockefeller]
#26562905 - 03/28/20 10:40 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Alan Rockefeller said: OP, this sounds much more like a software bug than Facebook flagging your video for illegal content. If it was a child porn video, then maybe. But mushrooms? There's no way they are looking for that.
Also, if this flagging was real and did occur, you would not see anything. No glitch, nothing. Modern wiretaps are completely invisible to both parties, they aren't going to be like GOT HIM! Now we send him a red exclamation mark and prevent him from destroying the evidence!
It sounds like this software bug is causing you significant stress. In the future, I recommend discussing illegal activities only over Signal, and turn on the "disappearing messages" feature, so they are wiped from the devices some time after they are read.
Using Signal won't make you any less likely to get busted than using Facebook messenger, but it will make you less stressed out.
Just checked it out and downloaded! Thanks, not sure this will replace privnote completely for me but maybe eventually. Wonder if most on the mycomarket use this app as well- Kinoko
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Merryshroomer
Fellow forager


Registered: 12/21/19
Posts: 23
Loc: Dorset, United Kingdom
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Merryshroomer]
#26676505 - 05/17/20 09:01 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thanks for the info, everyone! It's reassuring to know that FB likely didn't pick up on it. So far so good, I haven't had any 'knocks on the door'.
I ended up keeping the harvest, which was very fruitful I now use Signal to chat with my friend instead. I will definitely be avoiding FB for talking about shrooms in the future, though.
Edited by Merryshroomer (05/17/20 09:03 AM)
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PTreeDish



Registered: 04/22/18
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Merryshroomer] 1
#26686194 - 05/21/20 05:32 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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My advice is to not use FB if you can help it.
Quote:
Sharing private messages and contacts' details without consent In December 2018, it emerged that Facebook had, during the period 2010–2018, granted access to users' private messages, address book contents, and private posts, without the users' consent, to more than 150 third parties including Microsoft, Amazon, Yahoo, Netflix, and Spotify. This had been occurring despite public statements from Facebook that it had stopped such sharing years earlier.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook#Privacy_issues
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Merryshroomer
Fellow forager


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Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: Risks of using FB Messenger to talk about shrooms? [Re: Alan Rockefeller] 1
#26689575 - 05/23/20 02:46 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hello to all, I've got an update which I thought would be worth sharing.
I'm still using FB for the ID and mushroom discussion pages because they're great for learning about fungi. But apart from that and talking to friends overseas, I don't use it at all.
Recently whilst scrolling down what is essentially a news feed of mushroom pics, I noticed that I'm getting targeted ads for things like tie-dye and fractal-patterned clothing, healing charms and rocks, and even some stuff about psychedelic drugs. Seems like FB has me down as the psychonaut type.
Now, I don't believe I'm at risk of being caught, given the abundance of criminal activity already taking place on FB. Indeed, I recently stumbled across numerous FB groups similar to Shroomery which, incidentally, were recommended to me by FB. The members post pictures of their grows and techniques there. So, I think Alan was right, my video error was probably the result of a technical glitch.
However, FB's identifying me as a potential mushroom user is deeply concerning. I have a friend who's a software engineer and works with AI, he tipped me off that police enforcement is likely to use AI to identify individuals who are likely to engage in criminal activity. You can read about it here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewarnold/2018/04/21/can-ai-help-us-predict-and-prevent-crimes-in-the-future/
Just some food for thought.
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