Deleting applications: Are they really gone?

Facebook has lots of fun third-party applications you can add to your profile. Where you've travelled, IQ tests, movies and books you've read, games, quizzes and so on. If, for some reason, you no longer want these applications, you can click the Applications tab at the bottom of any Facebook page (once logged in) and delete or block as appropriate.

So, problem solved, huh? You won't get bombarded with vampire spam or endless quiz invitations. Well, not really. Every application I've uninstalled and then reinstalled, with no exception, has remembered my previous scores, settings and personal information I've inputted. The Trip Advisor map remembers the cities I've pinned, the IQ Test app remembers my IQ, even the Hatching Eggs remembers what eggs I've send and received. Nothing's really been deleted. It's the equivalent of deleting a desktop shortcut icon but not the application itself.

This is a serious risk to privacy. When you install third-party applications, you really are adhering to privacy policies outside of Facebook. Rather than add them willy-nilly, it's essential to read individual privacy policy statements. Can't find any? Then seriously think of the ramifications of adding the application. If it's just a game, then it's not so bad. But all the books and TV shows you've read and watched? Can that info be deleted?

Facebook's privacy policy states:

...third party developers who have created and operate Platform Applications ("Platform Developers"), may also have access to your personal information (excluding your contact information) if you permit Platform Applications to access your data. Before allowing any Platform Developer to make any Platform Application available to you, Facebook requires the Platform Developer to enter into an agreement which, among other things, requires them to respect your privacy settings and strictly limits their collection, use and storage of your information. However, while we have undertaken contractual and technical steps to restrict possible misuse of such information by such Platform Developers, we of course cannot and do not guarantee that all Platform Developers will abide by such agreements.

So, it can't guarantee your info will be used ethically. And each time you add an application you're allowing it to access your data; you have little choice.