Facebook applications designed to transmit individual info to Internet marketing companies have been uncovered in a Wall Street Journal investigation. Facebook apps known to be collecting unauthorized private information from tens of millions of Facebook users include FarmVille, FrontierVille and TX HoldEm Poker. When word got out about the solitude violations, Facebook shut down several apps over the weekend.
Facebook level of privacy takes one more hit
Those who use Facebook apps ought to be aware that your data is being sold. Companies will target your online habits based on the games and information it gets whenever you play them. A Wall Street Journal investigation found that Facebook apps were sending Facebook user ID numbers to at least 25 advertising firms and information processing businesses. Facebook rules are being violated when user Identification of Facebook users and their friends are being transmitted elsewhere. This is why the majority are now more concerned about Facebook privacy and whether Facebook really cares about the solitude of its users, reports the Journal.
Violating privacy for profit
Most Facebook apps are written by independent developers. According to Ars Technica, Facebook apps can get a user’s Facebook ID. This is done when an app is being put on the profile for the user. Despite the fact that Facebook privacy settings often deny access to Facebook ID numbers, sometimes the app will take the ID numbers and put them on their own servers. Friends of users of apps, including Farmville, may have their details given to data tracking businesses. The app takes info from the user and its friends together. About a dozen marketing firms were in contact with RapLeafInc, developer of Facebook applications like Family Tree and LOLapps, in order to get Facebook ID numbers that had been put on its own database.
Programmers of Facebook apps make an apology
Facebook made sure to shut down Rapleaf apps. This took place on Friday. Information Week accounts that Facebook pulled the plug on popular games including Critter Island, Diva Life, Band of Heroes, Yakuza Lords, and Facebook versions of Dante’s Inferno and Champions Online. On Sunday, the Facebook developer blog said the developers did not intend to collect personal information, but it occurred due to how browsers work. The data loophole had been closed by Facebook. Then, the apps were able to be accessed by users again. Rather than apologize for invading their Facebook privacy, a LOLapps blog on Monday said the company had been sorry that the 150 million Facebook users playing its games had to go without them over the weekend.
Data from
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304772804575558484075236968.html
Ars Technica
arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/10/many-faceook-apps-found-to-be-collecting-selling-user-info.ars
Information Week
informationweek.com/news/smb/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227900160 and cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All
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