Amazon and Facebook hook up

PRIVACY SHREDDER Facebook has teamed up with the online bookseller Amazon to offer punters buying advice.

Two of the biggest brands on the web announced the partnership in the hope that Facebook's near unlimited access to personal data will allow Amazon to offer a helping hand when it comes to picking out gifts for that special friend. The move is a nod towards social notworking features appearing on the popular shopping website, which Amazon has shunned until now.

The idea is that data from Facebook accounts of friends will allow Amazon to recommend products for purchase. This includes analysing tastes in music, books and movies, all from data listed on Facebook profiles. With the sites' accounts linked, users will not only be able to see what others like but upcoming birthdays as well, making sure they can buy timely gifts, from Amazon of course.

Not surprisingly, Amazon was quick to distance itself from privacy concerns by saying that shopping activity data will not be shared with Facebook. While the one-way transfer of information might seem perfectly fine to Amazon, the point is, do you want your Facebook 'friends' to know what you have purchased through Amazon?

Apparently Amazon believes that this arrangement will help its customers find new friends while shopping on its website. Perhaps it will, if you stick to the 'special interest' aisle.

If the notion of finding out what your friends like to purchase is right up your street, all you have to do is link your Facebook and Amazon accounts together. Giving away your personal shopping information to everyone you know has never been easier. µ