An article titled Facebook Crosses The Line With New Facebook Messenger App by a writer at a Chicago CBS network is going viral, and it shouldnt be. Im linking to an article that clarifies a bit, and I will pull out a few of the original authors points to make more technical comments about them. The original article is written in an alarmist tone without any direct references to actual policy or app permissions. I dont care to defend Facebook or its messenger app. However, I do feel compelled to call out link-bait bullshit and preying on the non-tech-savvy. The author cites no sources for clarification, so its best to assume that every word written is his and is not backed by facts. This post/rant is lengthy, so if you dont care to continue, then please at least take this point with you: People write bullshit to be seen. They make money off the ads on that page. Their jobs depend on being seen. It doesnt matter what they write. If it becomes popular, they profit, and we spread alarmist rumors. Heres the deal with any mobile app: they need permission to do certain things with your device. Youve seen the prompts every time you buy or download an app for free. It lets you know what the app can do with your device, and asks for your permission to allow that app to use those services. Im going to expand on the claims the author makes: Change the state of network connectivity – This means that Facebook can change or alter your connection to the Internet or cell service. You’re basically giving Facebook the ability to turn features on your phone on and off for it’s own reasons without telling you. If you have your phone in your pocket and its not making a call, the state of that network connectivity is disconnected. When you take your phone out and call someone, the dialer changes the state of the cellular network to connected. Youre giving Facebook permission to use their dialer to make phone calls, like any other phone application. Call phone numbers and send SMS messages – This means that if Facebook wants to…it can send text messages to your contacts on your behalf. Do you see the trouble in this? Who is Facebook to be able to access and send messages on your phone? You’re basically giving a stranger your phone and telling them to do what they want when they want! Messenger is a contact application. It needs permission to access your phones ability to make calls and send texts, because it intends to utilize that functionality. The author claims that Facebook will use these features without your permission. This is false. If that were the case, Apple or Androids default phone application–or any dialer application for that matter–could do the same thing. They dont because people would find out almost immediately, we would all scream about it, and their app would take a nosedive into oblivion. Record audio, and take pictures and videos, at any time – Read that line again….RECORD audio…TAKE pictures….AT ANY TIME!! That means that the folks at Facebook can see through your lens on your phone whenever they want..they can listen to what you’re saying via your microphone if they choose to!! I checked Google Plays permissions list on the Messenger app. The phrase at any time was not used. Apps are generally screened for appropriate usage. I may be mistaken, but I dont believe theres an app out there that would pass this screening if it were allowed to take photos without prompting the user. The app needs permission to use the camera, its probably that simple. Read your phone’s call log, including info about incoming and outgoing calls – Who have you been calling? How long did you talk to them? Now Facebook will know all of this because you’ve downloaded the new Facebook messenger app. All dialer apps do this. Its what dialers do. And yes, Facebook will know this information, because its their app. What will they use it for? To call your friend and tell them you didnt really like their shirt last night? They already have more information on you than they need from a simple call list, but they still need permission to access it so their app can make calls. Read your contact data, including who you call and email and how often – Another clear violation of your privacy. Now Facebook will be able to read e-mails you’ve sent and take information from them to use for their own gain. Whether it’s for “personalized advertisements” or if it’s for “research purposes” ….whatever the reason..they’re accessing your private encounters. When you check your missed calls, does your dialer tell you how many times you missed a call from someone? This is what who you [contact] and how often means. Read personal profile information stored on your device – This means that if you have addresses, personal info, pictures or anything else that’s near and dear to your personal life…they can read it. When you send an email, your email application attaches your full name to your email. This is because it has access to your personal info stored on your phone. Any photo app–collage app, Instagram, etc–has access to your photos and needs permission to do so. Your text messaging application needs permission to access your photos so you can send pictures to your contacts. This is nothing new or outrageous. Get a list of accounts known by the phone, or other apps you use – Facebook will now have a tally of all the apps you use, how often you use them and what information you keep or exchange on those apps. Do you ever share a photo on Facebook from an app not owned by Facebook? That app needs to know about your Facebook account in order to post on your behalf. Have you ever used your email address to find other friends on social networks? If you have your email account attached to your device, Messenger likely wants to access your address book so it can recommend friends to contact. OK, I feel better now. If you made it this far, I owe you a hug. xoxo
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:44:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015