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Why Does Facebook Need To Read My Text Messages?

Posted by timothy on from the is-facebook-played-by-scarlett-johansson? dept.

DavidGilbert99 writes "Facebook updates its Android app quite a lot, but the latest version asks for some rather odd permissions. Rolling out in the UK this week, some users have noticed that it now wants permission to read your text messages. While most suspected Facebook wanted to access the data to try and serve you more targeted ads, Facebook says it is only so it can facilitate two-factor authentication...apparently."

5 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by lesincompetent · · Score: 5, Informative

    Uninstalled the app, started using FB via browser. For my low intensity usage it's still perfect. Also links to click and youtube embeds work seamlessly now.
    Got no messenger installed too.

    1. Re:SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by CastrTroy · · Score: 5, Informative

      As soon as I saw this I uninstalled Facebook as well. My battery life has improved a bit. Also recently uninstalled Google Talk (now called "Hangouts (Replaces Google Talk)") because it started asking for access to my text messages as well. I've noticed a lot of apps asking for increased privileges lately. I usually uninstall them if it's something I don't really need. I wonder if the developers get statistics about number of people who uninstalled the app?

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    2. Re:SubjectsInCommentsAreStupid by asavage · · Score: 5, Informative

      Google hangouts wants to read your text messages as it is the default text message app for kitkat.

  2. Re:Obvious answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I believe Zuckerberg refers to users as 'dumb fucks'

  3. Re:Think of the children by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Informative

    We can't?

    Facebook didn't get any kind of information from me. Take a wild guess how I accomplished this feat.

    Hint: They can't exist without us. We can exist just fine without them.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.