Privacy Control in a Social Network

Abstract

An approach is provided to provide privacy control in a social network. In the approach, a first post is posted from a first user to a second user in the social network with the first post including private data belonging to the first user. Subsequent postings are monitored for the first user's private data. When the monitoring detects a second post of the first user's private data with the second post being from the second user to a third user in the social network, privacy controls are performed. The privacy controls mask the first user's private data from the third user so that the first user's private data inaccessible (not visible) to the third user.

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         9 . An information handling system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;   a nonvolatile storage area accessible by at least one of the processors; and   a set of instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors to provide privacy control in a social network, wherein the set of instructions perform actions of:
 posting a first post from a first user to a second user in the social network, wherein the first post includes private data of the first user; 
 monitoring one or more subsequent postings for the first user's private data; 
 detecting, based on the monitoring, a second post of the first user's private data, the second post being from the second user to a third user in the social network; and 
 based on the detection, masking the first user's private data from the third user, the masking making the first user's private data inaccessible to the third user. 
   
     
     
         10 . The information handling system of  claim 9  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 receiving, by the first user, a private data request wherein the private data request pertains to the first user's private data; and 
 unmasking the first user's private data in response to receiving, from the first user, an approval of the private data request, wherein the unmasking allows the third user to view the first user's private data that was included in the second post. 
 
     
     
         11 . The information handling system of  claim 10  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 generating a mask pattern corresponding to the first user's private data, wherein the generated mask pattern is based on a data type of the first user's private data. 
 
     
     
         12 . The information handling system of  claim 11  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 storing the generated mask pattern, the first user's private data, and an identifier of the third user in a data store in response to the detection that the second post included the first user's private data, wherein the data store is inaccessible to the third user; 
 retrieving the stored first user's private data and the identifier of the third user in response to receiving the private data request by the first user; and 
 displaying the first user's private data and the identifier of the third user to the first user in conjunction with the first user receiving the private data request. 
 
     
     
         13 . The information handling system of  claim 9  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 identifying the first post as including the first user's private data. 
 
     
     
         14 . The information handling system of  claim 13  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 analyzing the first post using a sensitive content analyzer; and 
 automatically identifying that the first user's private data is included in the first post based on the analysis of the first post. 
 
     
     
         15 . The information handling system of  claim 14  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 previously configuring, by the first user, one or more private data configuration settings, wherein the private data configuration settings are selected from the group consisting of one or more data types, one or more predetermined patterns, one or more matching instructions, and one or more analytic algorithms, wherein the analyzing utilizes the private data configuration settings. 
 
     
     
         16 . The information handling system of  claim 9  wherein the set of instructions perform additional actions comprising:
 notifying the second user that the second post includes the first user's private data; and 
 allowing the second user to modify the second post in response to the notification and prior to a reception of the second post by the third user. 
 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium, comprising computer instructions that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to control privacy in a social network by performing actions comprising:
 posting a first post from a first user to a second user in the social network, wherein the first post includes private data of the first user;   monitoring one or more subsequent postings for the first user's private data;   detecting, based on the monitoring, a second post of the first user's private data, the second post being from the second user to a third user in the social network; and   based on the detection, masking the first user's private data from the third user, the masking making the first user's private data inaccessible to the third user.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein the actions further comprise:
 receiving, by the first user, a private data request wherein the private data request pertains to the first user's private data; and 
 unmasking the first user's private data in response to receiving, from the first user, an approval of the private data request, wherein the unmasking allows the third user to view the first user's private data that was included in the second post. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18  wherein the actions further comprise:
 generating a mask pattern corresponding to the first user's private data, wherein the generated mask pattern is based on a data type of the first user's private data. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19  wherein the actions further comprise:
 storing the generated mask pattern, the first user's private data, and an identifier of the third user in a data store in response to the detection that the second post included the first user's private data, wherein the data store is inaccessible to the third user; 
 retrieving the stored first user's private data and the identifier of the third user in response to receiving the private data request by the first user; and 
 displaying the first user's private data and the identifier of the third user to the first user in conjunction with the first user receiving the private data request. 
 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein the actions further comprise:
 identifying the first post as including the first user's private data. 
 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21  wherein the actions further comprise:
 analyzing the first post using a sensitive content analyzer; and 
 automatically identifying that the first user's private data is included in the first post based on the analysis of the first post. 
 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22  wherein the actions further comprise:
 previously configuring, by the first user, one or more private data configuration settings, wherein the private data configuration settings are selected from the group consisting of one or more data types, one or more predetermined patterns, one or more matching instructions, and one or more analytic algorithms, wherein the analyzing utilizes the private data configuration settings. 
 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 17  wherein the actions further comprise:
 notifying the second user that the second post includes the first user's private data; and 
 allowing the second user to modify the second post in response to the notification and prior to a reception of the second post by the third user.