Slashdot Mirror
Internal Emails Show Facebook Weighing the Privacy Risks of Quietly Collecting Call and Text Records From Its Android Users -- Then Going Ahead Anyway (theverge.com)
Earlier this year, many Android users were shocked to discover that Facebook had been collecting a record of their call and SMS history, as revealed by the company's data download tool. Now, internal emails released by the UK Parliament show how the decision was made internally. From a report: According to the emails, developers knew the data was sensitive, but they still pushed to collect it as a way of expanding Facebook's reach. The emails show Facebook's growth team looking to call log data as a way to improve Facebook's algorithms as well as to locate new contacts through the "People You May Know" feature. Notably, the project manager recognized it as "a pretty high-risk thing to do from a PR perspective," but that risk seems to have been overwhelmed by the potential user growth.
Initially, the feature was intended to require users to opt in, typically through an in-app pop-up dialog box. But as developers looked for ways to get users signed up, it became clear that Android's data permissions could be manipulated to automatically enroll users if the new feature was deployed in a certain way.
Initially, the feature was intended to require users to opt in, typically through an in-app pop-up dialog box. But as developers looked for ways to get users signed up, it became clear that Android's data permissions could be manipulated to automatically enroll users if the new feature was deployed in a certain way.
Face it: you have to leave Facebook. You cannot un-know things like this. There's no rules anymore, they do whatever they want, and they're invading every last vestige of your personal lives now, whether you were asked or not. It's time to leave Facebook, do it NOW.
This behavior is not surprising at all considering that the only reason that Facebook exists is to collect data to sell to advertisers. Everything that they do is to increase profits. They really don't care about people or privacy...its all about the money!!!
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Welcome to the English language, Ivan.
Then means that the action is happening after the something else that was discussed immediately prior.
Going means to move.
Ahead is a direction, the meaning is similar to forwards.
Anyway means that the thing that happened was not prevented by some downside or problem that was already discussed.
So, "Then going ahead anyway" means that they knew there was something problematic with their actions, and they still tried to complete those actions.
Come back tomorrow and we can discuss There, Their, and They're. But only if you stop saying that rude thing at the end. Be nice, Ivan. And show up sober.
... the worse Facebook looks.
This isn't just Facebook's fault. It's Google's too. Note how they only did this on Android phones. Because Apple made their OS protect their users, and Google made their OS enable spying.
Your ad here. Ask me how!
And that goes for my 254 fake FB accounts too!
Oh, you mean you actually have FB on your tracked cellphone with Android?
Ok, you're just pulling my leg there, no way anyone would be dumb enough to do that.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Face it: you have to leave Facebook. You cannot un-know things like this. There's no rules anymore, they do whatever they want
I would ask the people of Slashdot to face something else; the truth that most people do not care about privacy. At all.
Continuing news like this from Facebook just makes it ever more obvious.
You have to figure out how to live in the world, knowing this fundamental truth and the truth that follows - even if you leave Facebook, there will always be another Facebook like milking of your privacy, because it doesn't bother most people.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The link to the actual government data is in this story.
Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
Chrome is a Google app. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about what they pass to Facebook, as a *Professional Courtesy* of course! Then there's your service provider, who usually doesn't charge Facebook against your data quotas. There has to be a reason why. The only safe thing to assume is that you're on a party line, and just like in old time Soviet Union, the cops are listening.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
This is not a difficult matter of logic.
Well it wasn't until you tried to describe it.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley