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Test Shows Facebook Begins Collecting Data From Several Popular Apps Seconds After Users Start Consuming Them. Company Also Collects Data of Non-Facebook Users. (wsj.com)

Posted by msmash on from the new-revelations dept.

Millions of smartphone users confess their most intimate secrets to apps. Unbeknown to most people, in many cases that data is being shared with someone else: Facebook. [Editor's note: the link may be paywalled; here's an alternative source.] The Wall Street Journal reports: The social-media giant collects intensely personal information from many popular smartphone apps just seconds after users enter it, even if the user has no connection to Facebook, according to testing done by The Wall Street Journal. The apps often send the data without any prominent or specific disclosure, the testing showed. [...] In the case of apps, the Journal's testing showed that Facebook software collects data from many apps even if no Facebook account is used to log in and if the end user isn't a Facebook member.

In the Journal's testing, Instant Heart Rate: HR Monitor, the most popular heart-rate app on Apple's iOS, made by California-based Azumio, sent a user's heart rate to Facebook immediately after it was recorded. Flo Health's Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker, which claims 25 million active users, told Facebook when a user was having her period or informed the app of an intention to get pregnant, the tests showed. Real-estate app Realtor.com, owned by Move, a subsidiary of Wall Street Journal parent News Corp, sent the social network the location and price of listings that a user viewed, noting which ones were marked as favorites, the tests showed. None of those apps provided users any apparent way to stop that information from being sent to Facebook. Update: New York Governor Cuomo has ordered probe into Facebook access to personal data.

111 comments

  1. You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So whaddya gonna do? You let the NSA do it, why not facebook? Just charge them a tax on it.

    1. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm pretty sure Facebook is a US intelligence front company.

    2. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by lgw · · Score: 3, Interesting

      So whaddya gonna do? You let the NSA do it, why not facebook? Just charge them a tax on it.

      I'd bet they aren't geoblocking this in the EU. That's gonna sting. The GDPR has big, sharp, poisonous fangs.

      Any EU Slashdotters using any of these apps? Please do make a "take" request to get everything they have on you, followed by a "sanitize" request to delete it all. We ma not see the fireworks, but they will be impressive.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    3. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      GDPR is a paper tiger. No one is being slapped with large fines.

    4. Re: You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IP tracking by geo is also against the policy.

    5. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Cowardly idiots like you get what you deserve. Enjoy having your life under a microscope.

    6. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by mrbester · · Score: 1

      It hasn't been in force long enough for a meaty case to be brought (because they take months to resolve). That's why the last fine Google had was small, as the amount was calculated using the old legislation. Give it time, the cases are coming.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    7. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It hasn't been in force long enough for a meaty case to be brought (because they take months to resolve). That's why the last fine Google had was small, as the amount was calculated using the old legislation. Give it time, the cases are coming.

      I will bet my entire 401k that the fines imposed will be less than the profit made.

    8. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Given how much trouble the GDPR caused for small, honest businesses just to update their documentation and processes just to get the formalities right even if nothing materially changed about their actual data processing, the regulators had better at least use the new powers it gives to get some good out of it.

      Of course, the GDPR came into effect less than a year ago, and the regulators are reportedly already applying stronger penalties in some cases. However, it seems likely that they're waiting for a headline case to make a point before they start issuing the first really big fines. What better case could there be than a data-hoarding giant like Facebook covertly collecting and processing sensitive personal data, which is a special category under the GDPR that includes health data and that has stricter rules about when processing is allowed?

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    9. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd bet they aren't geoblocking this in the EU. That's gonna sting. The GDPR has big, sharp, poisonous fangs.

      And what is EU going to do to company that is solely based outside EU? They have to jurisdiction even if GDPR says so.
      PS: I am talking about the companies that make the apps
      PS1: I know that GDPR also protects personal data of EU citizens gathered by non-EU entities. But if those entities aren't based on the EU (eg with subsidiary) how in the hell are they going to enforce the fines?

    10. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by lgw · · Score: 1

      And what is EU going to do to company that is solely based outside EU? They have to jurisdiction even if GDPR says so.
      PS: I am talking about the companies that make the apps

      Ah, but they're sending the data to Facebook, which probably didn't think this one through.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    11. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by tsa · · Score: 2

      Most civilized countries have rules governing the basic safety of appliances like cars and refrigirators and the like. They make sure the things don't catch fire for no apparent reason and the brakes work properly, for instance. These laws are there because you can't expect every citizen to know about these things. It's time there are laws installed that govern what social media can and can't do with your data, because you can't expect the people who use them to know all about what is happening to their data.

      --

      -- Cheers!

    12. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by tsa · · Score: 2

      FB operates within the EU so they have to comply to our laws. They can be fined just like MS and Google were.

      --

      -- Cheers!

    13. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know about facebook. I was talking about the companies behind the various apps. If they don't have any subsidiary inside EU then GDPR means nothing to them.
      (but FB can be fined to hell)

    14. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ^^^ THIS.

      FaceBook Inc. aka, FBI.

    15. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes but I was talking about the companies behind the apps. They can't be fined if they don't have any legal presence in the EU even if they gather EU-citizens personal data.

    16. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Yes it's a pain for small businesses, just like VATMOSS. But it's a perfect example of why we can't have nice things. We tried making it easy, but then Amazon etc could spend lots off lawyers to dodge taxes.the ugly foolproof solution made it harder on small companies. Same with data protection.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    17. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      feds drool over that data store. they grab the keys from under the mat whenever they want it. but mark working for them? no. he ain't that smart. but he is just dumb enough to leave the keys out for anyone who fucking wants them (ca, russians, etc).

    18. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by mrbester · · Score: 1

      Seeing as the fines can be €20m, or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher, that's a dangerous bet to make, even for $5.27.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    19. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by sverdlichenko · · Score: 1

      I guess these apps are built by small US companies or even individuals, without any assets in the EU. What exactly stops them from ignoring this GDPR request completely?

    20. Re:You can't stop them. Everything is collected by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, the responses in cases like the GDPR and VAT MOSS didn't have much respect for proportionality. The risk of a small business with contact details for 500 customers it had last year being hacked are hardly the same magnitude as the risks of an international payment service with millions of people's credit card details in its database. The risk of a company that only sold €25,000 to customers in the EU setting up international subsidiaries to save a few percent of VAT is hardly the same as a giant like Amazon doing so. And yet the small businesses are faced with much the same rules and disproportionate overheads, which has a horrible chilling effect when you multiply it by the number of times this happens.

      So I will respectfully disagree with the "this is why we can't have nice things" argument. Legal systems have recognised the concept of de minimis harm since forever. So have numerous global treaties, for that matter. The EU is exceptionally bad at aiming at perceived abuses by big businesses but failing to notice all the smaller businesses being taken out as collateral damage. But if it then fails to even achieve its intended result in terms of curtailing abuses by bigger businesses, that's just adding insult to injury, so if it's going to have dubious laws like the GDPR, it had better at least use them to do some "greater good" or the whole thing was just a damaging waste of time.

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  2. In b4 zucc'd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    succ for zucc

  3. Nice paywall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone got the list of apps to avoid?

    1. Re:Nice paywall by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Anyone got the list of apps to avoid?

      Yes... all of them. Always assume everything you post to an app CAN, and PROBABLY will find it's way into the wrong hands eventually.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    2. Re:Nice paywall by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 2

      ALL of them, friend AC. While you're at it, get off the Smartphone Treadmill; stop paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for a silly phone that'll be obsolete in 2 years, and get the cheapest plastic dumbphone that's good at being a telephone (shouldn't cost more than $50), and be content with that, use the money you saved on something actually important. You'll also save money every month paying the price-gouging wireless companies because you won't need any 'dataplan' anymore. All in all you'll save at least $1000 the first year, and probably $300-500 every year after that, and get a fair fraction of your overall privacy back.

    3. Re:Nice paywall by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 1

      The device I really want is something with roughly the format and feature set of a modern smartphone, but with the software emphasis entirely on standard communications apps (call, send message, browse web, check email, etc.) and useful hardware features (photo/video recording, torch, GPS) rather than "app store apps" where 99.999% of them are junkware and the few useful ones could be done almost as well connecting to ordinary web sites from a browser with reasonable security and privacy. Sadly, no-one seems to make that device, so the options are old school feature phones (which have served me well for a long time, but aren't as convenient in some practical respects) or current smartphones (which are a security, privacy and reliability nightmare for the reasons we all know).

      --
      If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
    4. Re:Nice paywall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would I do that. I haven't used my smartphone as a phone in years. Do you mean to say someone actually talks to people on thier smartphone? Why would they do that?

    5. Re:Nice paywall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's not talking to you basement-dwelling fat neckbearded incels, he's talking to the actual relevant people.

  4. Stop posting paywalled articles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the website cannot give us the content for "free", why does slashdot give them the advertising for free?

    1. Re:Stop posting paywalled articles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's not that hard to break paywalls, you know.

    2. Re:Stop posting paywalled articles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree! No paywalls, no tracking, not advertisements! Free content!

      If you work for these places, it should be volunteer work and you should be paid by donations only

    3. Re:Stop posting paywalled articles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your ideas intrigue me, and I would like to subscribe to your gratis newsletter.
      The pre-commercial Web had much higher quality of content. What spam, malware, fake news, and all the crap on the Web has in common is the profit motive.

    4. Re:Stop posting paywalled articles. by couchslug · · Score: 1

      Because msmash values quantity over quality and enjoys making Slashdot worse.

      I'm not posting anonymously because this shit is getting old. The posts are so consistently bad they amount to crapflooding.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    5. Re: Stop posting paywalled articles. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But why even try?

      It's a philosophical objection, not a technical one.

  5. Non-paywalled link by Kargan · · Score: 2

    https://www.ft.com/content/62f...

    Also, old news, this came out in December.

    --
    Palaces, barricades, threats, meet promises
    1. Re:Non-paywalled link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Was that a joke? Your link just takes me to a different paywall

    2. Re:Non-paywalled link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I has been known for years that Fakebook collects data on everyone it can, even if they are not signed up with Fakebook. We just keep finding more of the ways that Fakebook illegally collects data to sell to advertisers. Fakebook needs to be shut down, and all of its facilities utterly destroyed. Collection of ANY data without express written consent needs to be illegal, with 7 digit fines, and 3 digit mandatory jail sentences for each instance!

  6. So basically, they're Google. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now all they need, is a nice slogan. Something like "Prohibit behavior of a splendid nature"...

    1. Re:So basically, they're Google. by Locke2005 · · Score: 2

      Google abandoned the "Don't Be Evil" slogan years ago... obviously. Companies must act in the fiduciary interest of shareholders... if that requires being evil, then so be it!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    2. Re:So basically, they're Google. by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 2

      When I refer to 'capitalism out of control' or 'capitalism gone bad', that's what I'm talking about: 'Profit above all else, fuck anyone who doesn't like it'. It's got to CHANGE.

  7. Just shut em down ... by Rip!ey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just shut em down for fucks sake. They don't care, at all. Not one little bit.The entire concept of social contract escapes them.

    I don't do social media. Not at all. And yet I can't escape them.

    1. Re:Just shut em down ... by cypherljk · · Score: 1

      But... these are not FB apps that are selling your information. Until it is illegal to share information without your consent it will continue whether with Facebook or someone else.

      --
      Of all the OS's I've seen, I like the one that runs my mind the most!
    2. Re:Just shut em down ... by zippo01 · · Score: 2

      People would scream bloody murder if you tried to shut them down. Making all this public and trying to get people off the platform is a much easier way. Facebook has huge infrastructure costs. It would take much of a lose on members (US/north america members as they are the most $$) to make them hurt. Service begins to suffer, more people live, cycle continues. The other thing that could kill them is if the advertisement bubble bursts. They get an insane amount for North America users. If that value goes down by much they would quickly have to start belt tighting.

    3. Re:Just shut em down ... by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      Do you know how many websites now REQUIRE Facebook logins?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    4. Re:Just shut em down ... by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 0

      While I share your frustration in how cavalier FB is with this stuff, your call to "just shut 'em down" begs the question. What USA law have they violated that would merit shutdown? The USA has a government of laws. It is not a dictatorship where private businesses can be shut down on a whim. What a frightening proposition, that you can violate no laws and be shut down regardless due to public opinion.

      Again, I will emphatically state I find FB's conduct reprehensible. But the government should only get involved when things are illegal. Reprehensible stuff is handled by customers when they stop giving business to companies they dislike. You do not want to give the government -- any government -- the right to arbitrarily kill a business just because they do something unpopular.

      --
      In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    5. Re:Just shut em down ... by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      How dare you deny Facebook it's God-given right to profit endlessly off the unsuspecting! Capitalism above all else, it's the American way! We Plebian 'citizens' and our puny, meaningless 'privacy rights' are nothing in the face of endless profiteering for Corporate America; never forget that 'corporations are people too', how dare you deny them their Consitutitional Rights! You should WILLINGLY give ALL your personal data to Facebook, and furthermore buy an entire fleet of 'digital assistants' to install in every room of your house (including the bathroom and bedrooms) so Facebook, Amazon, Google, and your Friends at the Federal Government can collect as much data as they want 24/7/365 (in order to protect and serve you, of course, LOL!) and be THANKFUL that they so graciously grant you the privilege of being able to do so! After all, sharing your entire life, 24/7, cradle-to-grave, including your innermost thoughts and feelings, is NORMAL; 'privacy' is only desired by people with something to HIDE that they're ASHAMED of, or if they're CRIMINALS or TERRORISTS! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!11!!

    6. Re:Just shut em down ... by EvilSS · · Score: 1

      I've run across 0 that are not owned by FB or are not tied in by their main function to social media (socialblade for instance, and then only if you want to track FB) that require a FB logon. Many off it, along with Google but I've yet to run into any that require it.

      So to answer your question, I'm going to say not that many.

      --
      I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
    7. Re:Just shut em down ... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Do you know how many websites now REQUIRE Facebook logins?

      I haven't seen one in ages. What sleazy corner of the web have you been on?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:Just shut em down ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      None that I've ever been on. I've seen it as an option in a few places. Can you give any examples?

    9. Re:Just shut em down ... by thegreatbob · · Score: 1

      None that I use, mostly because I just don't have any need... same goes for Google and Microsoft logins, outside of sites and services owned and operated by the specific company. I'm not a fan of single sign-on, and Facebook is an exceptionally large turn-off. If I was forced to use a service requiring any of these, I'd create specific throwaway accounts for each.

      --
      There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
    10. Re:Just shut em down ... by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Do you know how many websites now REQUIRE Facebook logins?

      None, so far as I'm aware, that you're required to patronize. If you don't like the tie in with FB, don't give these sites your business. They will either change their policies or wither and die.

      Why is it people are so oblivious to the power they have to affect change without requiring The Almighty Hand Of Government to step in and regulate everything? Is it just lazy thinking?

      --
      In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    11. Re:Just shut em down ... by BringsApples · · Score: 2

      If you don't do social media, then how is it that you can't escape them? I understand that you're probably referenced somewhere on FB, I know I am too (I also don't use it), but so what? If I'm not wrapped up in it, how does it affect me?

      The whole thing that Facebook is doing is simply collecting money from people that want your data. These companies that want said data, have no way to confirm that it's legit. Facebook slides by, on the fact that no one knows what they have, or how they get it. If Facebook approached me and said "We suspect that a guy named Tim Kroft wants to kill you, judging by his posts. It's important that you seek protection. We can provide you with protection for a small fee." What are my choices for confirming any of that, even that Tim Kroft is a real person?

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    12. Re:Just shut em down ... by tquasar · · Score: 1

      Don't use it either. My wife got the facebook virus via a contact.

    13. Re:Just shut em down ... by dryeo · · Score: 2

      Why is it people are so oblivious to the power they have to affect change without requiring The Almighty Hand Of Government to step in and regulate everything? Is it just lazy thinking?

      It is due to the fact that the minority has a hard time defending their rights against the majority. It's one of the jobs of government, at least in theory.
      I do my best to avoid Facebook, but due to so many people using them they are everywhere and I'd bet they have too much of my personal info even with my avoiding them.
      As it gets harder to avoid them, less and less people have the capability. Takes some skill to manage scripts with things like no-script. Some ad blockers white list some sites. Keeping the hosts file up to date to block domains, currently it has 41233 lines of which only a few are comments. VPN's cost money and you still don't know which ones actually are private. Etc.

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    14. Re:Just shut em down ... by dryeo · · Score: 1

      Many countries have privacy laws. Unluckily it seems Americans are fine with their government outsourcing data collection and other ways of infringing on rights.

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    15. Re:Just shut em down ... by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 2

      I dunno, there are a lot of anti-stalking laws around this country... Finding one that applies would make some lawyer very rich and famous. A few high priced civil suits should do it, no need to 'shut them down'.

    16. Re:Just shut em down ... by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 2

      You can't escape them because their trackers are on way too many websites. Eventually your web browser's fingerprint will get into the system as well as everything that fingerprint did, like online purchases, searches, forum participation (real forums, not social media soapboxes), websites you visit, etc. They may not initially know who that fingerprint belongs to, but cross reference it with purchases / website visits / etc and they now know who you are even if you never went on their main sites.

      This is why data amalgamation is big business, and why consumers that begin to understand this are getting annoyed.

    17. Re:Just shut em down ... by tsa · · Score: 1

      None, as far as I know. I never came across one.

      --

      -- Cheers!

    18. Re:Just shut em down ... by prisoner-of-enigma · · Score: 1

      It is due to the fact that the minority has a hard time defending their rights against the majority.

      And yet the entire premise of "shut them down" is that a majority of people dislike what FB is doing! So, again, I ask why people turn to the government as this miraculous solver of all ills?

      Or, for the sake of argument, let us assume there isn't a majority out there that dislikes what FB is doing. Should a minority of citizens be allowed to persuade government of the entire populace that a service should be "shut down" simply because the minority party doesn't like it? Is that the kind of government we want? Has anyone stopped to consider the consequences of what could happen under such a system?

      --
      In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    19. Re:Just shut em down ... by dryeo · · Score: 1

      If they ignore laws, and they do in a lot of countries, what else should be done?

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    20. Re:Just shut em down ... by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      Why would this be modded down? Mommy government shouldn't be called in to squash something you don't like, irrespective of laws.

      Is FB doing things that are illegal? Maybe (probably), but there's a reason why we have courts.
      is FB doing something morally wrong? Definitely. So we update the laws accordingly, and deal with it by proper channels.

    21. Re:Just shut em down ... by BringsApples · · Score: 1

      You're 100% correct, all of it. But so what? What can you do about people making a list of qualities that they conclude that you have? Like you said, browser fingerprints exist, and despite the fact that I don't facebook, I do see ads based on what I browsed earlier. But so what? I only see ads at work, where I'm forced to use chrome. At home I use firefox, and I literally never see any ads at all, not even within youtube, or it's videos. So unless I'm at work, I don't see ads - I can't understand why I should care about that at all though.

      The thing that I don't want, would be a situation where a con-artist got a hold of my data. But any situation like this would be extremely rare, and it's extremely hard to con someone like me, who's got very little. If you have a lot to lose to a con-artist, then yeah, this whole tracker thing is worrisome.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    22. Re:Just shut em down ... by sjritt00 · · Score: 1

      Try stltoday.com, the website for the St Louis Post-Dispatch. They require a Facebook login to leave comments. Of course, there is very little there worth reading anymore, and even less worth commenting on.

  8. GDPR, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm curious if they still do this in the EU, given that around zero (or less) of the above behavior meshes up with the GDPR or the forthcoming ePrivacy legislation.

    1. Re:GDPR, anyone? by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      I think multi-billion dollar fines of Google, Facebook, Apple, and the like will be the primary funding source for the EU for many years to come...

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  9. Facebook are criminals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zuck ought to be in prison.

    1. Re:Facebook are criminals by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      Can you sentence robots to jail?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  10. stop using smart phones by DogDude · · Score: 1

    The only thing to do is not to use a smart phone. It's it's not the "apps", then it's Apple or Google.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:stop using smart phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True, but then they follow you and create ghost profiles for you as you purchase things with credit cards, and especially when you use store loyalty cards.

    2. Re:stop using smart phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Minimize the use of credit cards, use only cash whenever possible. Get rid of all store loayalty cards.

  11. For you hosts file by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 2

    Just read title, facebook is indiscriminate and grabs all. I just downloaded this facebook hosts file and added it to my own.
    https://github.com/jmdugan/blo...

    1. Re:For you hosts file by dryeo · · Score: 1

      This one seems to have merged together the most host files, with over 4100 entries https://github.com/StevenBlack...

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
  12. One fix for this crap, by jenningsthecat · · Score: 2

    would be to mandate that all connected devices have a user-configurable firewall that enjoys root permissions and is the ultimate boss of whatever data is sent or received by any app. We all know that will never happen, and we also know that the majority of users would never configure it.

    But just imagine it for a moment - those of us who actually care about our privacy, (but who don't know what to do, or who get stuck with unrootable devices), would be able to force the data miners to fuck off. And a lot of formerly-clueless people who suddenly DO care about their privacy when they read news stories like this wouldn't be so helpless. They could ask their geek friends what to do and NOT hear something like "buy a new phone, root it, install this app, blah blah blah".

    It's nice to dream sometimes.

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
    1. Re:One fix for this crap, by Alypius · · Score: 1

      I tend to argue for the same thing for IoT gadgetry. Still won't happen, but I like to think that someday wifi router makers will incorporate easy-mode "IoT VLAN" for those that can't/won't properly lock down their devices.

    2. Re:One fix for this crap, by es330td · · Score: 1

      What would be really interesting is to see how the data gets skewed when the subset of the technically competent is removed from the population dataset.

    3. Re:One fix for this crap, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would be worthless. You need to send the server a request for the listing you want to view (compared to downloading every listing across the entire world each time you open the app). The server has a log of the request and the company can forward that data (which is their data, not your's) to whomever they please. Putting a firewall on your device does nothing to prevent this.

    4. Re:One fix for this crap, by Jakester2K · · Score: 1

      Yeah I've thought about that too. In metaphorical terms, a personal "digital lockbox" with very-fine-grained controls on who exactly gets what.

      The problem is this: once you're data is out there how do you control it? At best you could control one, maybe two hops from your lockbox. After that it's in the world, where anyone and everyone can get at it, with no say at all on your part....

      IMO that's the real issue here.

  13. Who did Facebook piss off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why the spate of anti-Facebook stories on Slashdot today?

    Yeah, Facebook deserves it, but why now?

    1. Re:Who did Facebook piss off? by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      Obviously Slashdot's parent company hasn't gotten any advertising revenue from Facebook in a while... can you say "extortion"? If it works for AMI, why not for Slashdot? Oh wait, extorting the robot didn't work for AMI, did it?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    2. Re:Who did Facebook piss off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Extorting the world's richest man, while themselves under no-prosecute arrangements over felonies they committed to defend a traitor, well... it might have worked if they didn't spell it out in their emails to him. Trump level dumb.

    3. Re:Who did Facebook piss off? by Kyr+Arvin · · Score: 1

      Spate? I don't see a lot more than normal. And they've been getting a lot of attention for the last few years due to their scummy business practices and Zuckerburg's congressional testimony. If they don't change their ways, then there will be a lot of stories to run.

    4. Re:Who did Facebook piss off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Spate? I don't see a lot more than normal. And they've been getting a lot of attention for the last few years due to their scummy business practices and Zuckerburg's congressional testimony. If they don't change their ways, then there will be a lot of stories to run.

      Three anti-Facebook stories posted to Slashdot in the span of a couple of hours.

  14. Re: Cool Study by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How can it be FUD if it's true?

  15. Stop calling it "sharing" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please stop using the feel-good propaganda word "sharing" to describe the practice of stalking, spying, profiling, and selling personal data.

    1. Re:Stop calling it "sharing" by smooth+wombat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Please stop using the feel-good propaganda word "sharing" to describe the practice of stalking, spying, profiling, and selling personal data.

      It's no different than when people claim they're "sharing" music and videos.

      If you're not going to pay the producers for the items you're using, why should these companies not be able to use your data for free?

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    2. Re:Stop calling it "sharing" by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 1

      Yeah, and it's bullshit when they use it too.

      The point is that you're not using ANY of the shit they're peddling, paid or not, yet you get caught up as by-catch in their information dragnet.

      --
      -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
    3. Re:Stop calling it "sharing" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please stop using the feel-good propaganda word "sharing" to describe the practice of stalking, spying, profiling, and selling personal data.

      It's no different than when people claim they're "sharing" music and videos.
      If you're not going to pay the producers for the items you're using, why should these companies not be able to use your data for free?

      Bolded for duncery.

      One is public, the other is private.
      One involves a relationship with party A, the other, party B.

      Nothing public done or not done to party A does not justify party B using underhanded tactics to systematically collect and sell private information without explicit consent.

  16. Re:Cool Study by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Everybody did most certainly not know that apps that are not obviously affiliated with FB send users' personal data to FB, regardless whether or not you are a FB user.

  17. Shut it down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fart Suckerberg cannot be trusted, time to shut it down.

  18. Another Facebook newflash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not even sure most Facebook users have any clue what is being collected. If you tell them, I am pretty sure most would continue to use Facebook and its apps. Probably because they are social alcoholics who are addicted now and couldn't possibly give up the connections.

  19. Re:Cool Study by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Everyone" is a very, very broad group of people. It means... everyone. This renders your logic questionable.

  20. Won't stop this by Solandri · · Score: 4, Informative

    The apps which got caught doing this are just the stupid ones. There's no reason for the app to send the data directly to Facebook. The Realtor.com app could send the data to Realtor.com first, then they send the data to Facebook without you ever knowing.

    There are only two ways to prevent this sort of sharing with a third party. Legislation like the EU has adopted. Or reading the EULAs like a hawk and not using any app which states that they share usage info with other companies.

  21. Consuming Apps? by gtall · · Score: 1

    I do not ever recall consuming an app. Is this something peculiar to social media (I don't use it)?

    1. Re:Consuming Apps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Came here wondering much the same: how, exactly, does one consume an app?

  22. Add two and two together by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Facebook has costs and income. Its income is from selling information about people not publicly available. Ergo private. If I have a company living from selling TV sets without officially ever importing or producing or buying TV sets, at some point of time somebody will notice that things don't add up. No matter how often the company states that it has learnt from its mistakes and stopped stealing TV sets. As long as keeps selling them and not buying or building any, no change of heart would be sustainable.

  23. If you read my comment again, ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... you will see that the slogan means "Don't be good".

  24. At least we finally get them to pay taxes. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Instead of leeching on our society ... in order to ... leech on our society.

    If it has to happen this way... everyone in the EU is fine with that. Except for the Mont Perelin Society of course, but they are a Swiss think tank battalion. And neocon-fascist "libertarians".

  25. Avoiding the Paywall by MisterSquid · · Score: 1

    The paywall can be circumvented by using, ironically in this case, Facebook.

    --
    blog
  26. ios Weather Channel app by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple needs to just build their own default apps (while they are at it, they need to investigate data safety (on the server-side and client-side) from the default app with the Weather Channel logo)

    I would like to believe that Apple is the company that provides safety and privacy but they now have some work to do to regain my trust

  27. The more we learn about Facebook... by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1

    ... the worse Facebook looks.

  28. Re:Cool Study by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 1

    Won't someone please THINK OF THE CORPORATIONS!!!1!

      Lameness filter encountered. Post aborted!
    Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.

    --
    -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
  29. Ask Data. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think you just push real hard up their assholes or something.

    Although in Zuck's case, I don't know which one. The top or the bottom one?

  30. As You Know..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Facebook is nothing more than complete abject SURVEILLANCE, DATAMINING, POWER and CONTROL SPYING CENSOR STATE over YOU. Same goes for GOOGLE. And APPLE. And everything else.
    First they Mine Sell Propagandize and Manipulate you fuck all with it.
    Then they ship it ALL to the Governments to do the same thing.
    You're getting DOUBLE FUCKED by these Companies.
    All while you sit on your ignorant duff zoned out on Crossy Road.

    Here's another truth...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0-cgs51zEA
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6b70TUbdfs

    Free Your Mind

    1. Re:As You Know..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      this is true. thanks for helping people understand and get them on the learning path.

  31. Why the outcry by jwymanm · · Score: 1

    This is how app developers are getting paid. You either pay for an app or use it freely with the understanding you are still paying for it through data collection your device allows. There are libraries, opensource and other, that just plugin to apps that allow developers to get paid for their work and your device coughs up data along the way that allows you to keep using said apps. I don't get the fucking outcry here. It's just data. Without said data you wouldn't have all the apps you can right now since there would be zero dev incentive to charge $5 a month for an app that requires constant development since 5 frigging people would use it. Now you guys are going to make sure the government cracks down on this free market and ruins everyones' day by making free apps impossible.

  32. Re:Cool Study by jwymanm · · Score: 1

    This right here. Everyone that is upset about this is on the wrong side. This is how apps and software developers make money these days. They share data in exchange for developing software and giving it to you for free. If you get outraged and start a social justice war around this then the government is just going to crack down and fine the crap out of everyone until there won't be free apps anymore. You are going to destroy an entire market because you're pissed off someone like Facebook knows where you ate lunch today? This is how marketing works. It is targeted. It doesn't matter if the data goes to Facebook or Google or some smaller entity it pays for the development of the software you use daily. In exchange you give up some details of your life. The only outrage should be when companies sell that data back to governments like in the case of the fake genealogy websites. Then your data _is_ guaranteed to be used against you in court.

  33. Legal, taxed and regulated by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    that's my attitude. Banning a thing isn't gonna fix it (which is what shutting down Facebook is basically). Instead regulate it (and tax it while you're at it)

    Of course, you'd have to vote people into office would oppose regulatory capture, and that means voting for some folks you might not necessarily like. I don't necessarily mean policy wise (there is that too) but I mean you might not like them personally.

    The kinds of people who can be bought off are often also some of the most affable. Reagan, Clinton (Bill), even Bush Jr were all immensely likable but I could spend the next 12 hours regaling you of all the horrible stuff they did.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  34. What if.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What if there were shady contracts in the background behind social media and 'unnamed' us government branch? What if finding this out is just finding out a part of a sophisticated way of intelligence gathering? Any geek should know the business their company does and for whom they do it to..

  35. Prison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Until the law makers stop taking bribes from corporations and they make laws to imprison people like zuckerberg rather than giving fines that amount to just hours of operation for the corporations this kind of behaviour will continue. The fines are just a cost of doing business. The alternative is you start by stripping the top 10 shareholders of 10% of their shares, THAT will also wake them up that privacy and security are taken seriously.

  36. Block by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    social media from your computer.
    Software firewall, browser extensions, external firewall.
    Secure your computer and networking from social media.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"