Etsy Suffers Privacy “DIY-saster”

In early 2011, online marketplace Etsy suffered a “social media DIY-saster” after making shoppers’ feedback posts, purchases, and, in some cases, real names publicly visible and searchable without adequately notifying users. Because the company announced the change only on a forum rarely used by buyers, it was accused of refusing to take its users’ privacy concerns seriously, leading the incident to be described as “Etsy’s privacy Valdez.” The online marketplace has since changed its default privacy settings, apologized for its behavior, and acknowledged that it will have to “work hard to regain your trust.” For many users, however, this may have been the “last straw.”