What is the impact of Facebook's patent for utilizing a social network for credit ratings?

Question

I have read that Facebook has been granted a patent for letting money lenders discriminate against borrowers based on their social network. In the patent, it apparently says: "In a fourth embodiment of the invention, the service provider is a lender. When an individual applies for a loan, the lender examines the credit ratings of members of the individual's social network who are connected to the individual through authorized nodes. If the average credit rating of these members is at least a minimum credit score, the lender continues to process the loan application. Otherwise, the loan application is rejected."

What do you think will be the impact of this technology? Also, how do you think this will affect other social media sites? Do you think the patent would hold up in court?

Answers: 0 public & 0 private

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