By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:23 PM on 3rd May 2011

A bit suspect: In an interview with Russia Today Julian Assange said Facebook was one of the top tools for the U.S. Government to spy on its citizens.

An official WikiLeaks page has attracted 1.72million 'likes' on Facebook.

But that hasn't stopped 'Leaks leader Julian Assange blasting the social networking site as 'the most appalling spying machine ever invented.'

In an interview with Russia Today Assange said Facebook was one of the top tools for the U.S. Government to spy on its citizens.

'Here we have the world's most comprehensive database about people, their relationships, their names, their addresses, their locations, their communications with each other and their relatives, all sitting within the United States, all accessible to U.S. Intelligence,' he said.

'Facebook, Google, Yahoo, all these major U.S. organisations have built-in interfaces for U.S. intelligence.
'Everyone should understand that when they add their friends to Facebook they are doing free work for the United States intelligence agencies,' he added.

A spokesman for Facebook denied the company was doing anything they weren't legally obliged to do, in an email to the New York Daily News.

'We don't respond to pressure, we respond to compulsory legal process,' the spokesperson wrote.

'There has never been a time we have been pressured to turn over data - we fight every time we believe the legal process is insufficient.'

That said there are concerns about the way Facebook shares its information and with who. 

Last year, three Democratic senators requested that the FTC look at Facebook's information-sharing policies.

Apps like Farmville and Causes also shared users' information with advertising and tracking companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.

See Assange Video:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hp8rJVWC2a0

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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If you really want privacy you should go live in the mountains. Even having a national insurance number and paying taxes makes your information accessable, (address, salary, time in current job, dependants etc) It's only when you are flagged through suspicious activity that the government will investigate the details of your life, FB just makes some of the info quicker to gather.

- John, UK, 03/5/2011 14:40

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Well, on the one hand it's a Socialising website to chat to your Cyber friends. And on the other hand, it's one way for Big Brother to keep tabs on those who are daft enough to post intimate details of their dirty, sordid little lives. Of course the Security Services will be trawling through sites like 'Facebook', 'Twitter' and other sites. It can be quite surprising just how careless some folks can be to the detail of their private lives and ambitions are.

- Mr Fourcandles, Living in Marxist Times of EU-Land & Its Kommie Kommizzars England UK, 03/5/2011 14:30

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It never ceases to amaze me how friendsof mine - intelligent, professional friends, happily fill in all the information boxes for facebook; school, uni, workplace, club memberships, interests etc. In my opinion this is asking for trouble. I have a facebook page to keep up with what my daughters are doing and friends and family abroad - the only accurate information I gave was that I am female. I entered a false d.o.b., and everything else I left blank. Also, my profile pic is not me it's an animal which gives me the advantage of avoiding people I hardly know from trying to 'friend' me. Facebook has it's place, but only when used with a bit of common sense. Oh and by the way my name isn't Red and I don't live in Cheltenham.

- Red, Cheltenham, 03/5/2011 14:30

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Funny how you all probably appose ID cards, yet divulge every detail of your lives to facebook and others, do you really think its safe from government spying. Or for that matter some lunatic or ex lover and so on seeking revenge.

- Mitch, Coventry, 03/5/2011 14:15

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lols, i used to wonder this about the post ofice, they see every letter everyone gets. know where everyone lives cause everyone gets bills etc. now with hardly any mail coming in anymore they need something yes? so now they get to know just what level i have reached in farmville, i'm happy for them. i think they would rather know about my e-mail instead but? ah well, such is life, i'm sure they will come up with something. some people are using facebook mail though, maybe that will help? or maybe they can hook it into the traffic cams on the corner, then they'll know what outfit i wear everyday and when i go shopping:) oh, oh, oh, oh, they also know about special events at the corner tavern that they didn't know before. i bet thats real helpful for them.

- helen, stlmousa, 03/5/2011 14:03

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Only the idiots who submit their actual addresses, real birthdays & check 'keep me logged in' should be worried. And even then worried about what.. What are Govs doing with the info? Have you been followed around by a tiny satellite, or has your life just carried on? If you're worried that the government knows where you live & who you're married to then you're probably already a criminal anyway.

- David, Cambridge, 03/5/2011 13:56

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382939/Julian-Assange-blasts-Facebook-appalling-spying-machine-invented.html#ixzz1LrbaszSR