Facebook gathers private data from popular apps including Tinder, OkCupid and Pregnancy+, report claims
- A German mobile security firm found Facebook collects private data from apps
- Mobilsicher tested the Android version of apps like Tinder, Grindr, Pregnancy+ and others, finding they share info like dating profiles and religious affiliation
- In exchange, Facebook will tell developers usage data around their apps
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Popular apps like Tinder, OkCupid and Pregnancy+ may be siphoning off private user data and sharing it with Facebook.
The apps were found to be collecting data like users’ religious affiliation, dating profiles and healthcare data, according to a report from German mobile security initiative Mobilsicher, which was first spotted by BuzzFeed.
Mobilsicher tested the Android version of religious apps like Bible + Audio and MuslimPro, health-related apps such as Pregnancy+ and Migraine Buddy, as well as dating apps including OkCupid and Tinder and found Facebook collects data from them.
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Popular apps like Tinder, OkCupid, Migraine Buddy and Pregnancy+ were found to be collecting data like users’ religious affiliation, dating profiles and healthcare data
WHAT APPS SHARE DATA WITH FACEBOOK
In total, Mobilsicher concluded that approximately 30 percent of all apps in Google Play’s Store ‘contact Facebook at startup and transmit user data.’
The firm called out several apps:
- Bible+
- Curvy
- ForDiabetes
- Grindr
- Kwitt
- Migraine Buddy
- Moodpath
- Muslim Pro
- OkCupid
- Pregnancy+
In total, Mobilsicher concluded that some 30 percent of all apps in Google’s Play Store ‘contact Facebook at startup and transmit user data.’
‘This way, the company knows which apps you use and when you use them – including apps related to religion, sexuality or health,’ the firm explained.
‘For users, this data-transmission is entirely invisible.’
What’s more, many of the developers Mobilsicher contacted about the practice explained that they thought the information Facebook receives is anonymized.
The personal information is being collected via Facebook’s Software Developer Kit (SDK), a platform that the firm offers to developers and lets users login to other services with their Facebook account.
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App developers give Facebook information about users’ activity on the app and, in exchange, Facebook gives the app developers information about where users click, how long they use the app and your location when you use it, BuzzFeed noted.
Facebook can see information from developers like the type of device used, what time users are on the app, the IP address of the device that used the app and an advertising ID that’s specific to a certain user.
Mobilsicher, a German mobile security initiative, concluded that some 30 percent of all apps in Google’s Play Store ‘contact Facebook at startup and transmit user data’
While a user’s advertising ID is often considered anonymous, Mobilsicher asserts that it’s not.
‘The Advertising ID is unique for every device and can be read by any app installed – no permission or user interaction necessary,’ the firm explained.
‘Facebook makes use of this: If you log on to your Facebook account just once using your smartphone, Facebook collects your Ad ID and connects it to your account.
‘If your name, birthday, email address or other personal identifiable information is stored in this account, it is very far from being anonymous,’ Mobilsicher added.
Using that information about a user, Facebook may generate more targeted advertisements based on details it learns from your app use.
The practice has raised privacy concerns among some who say many of the apps found to share user data might include sensitive information, especially in an app like Pregnancy+, which provides detailed data about a woman’s pregnancy.
HOW DOES FACEBOOK COLLECT DATA ON USERS WHEN THEY VISIT OTHER SITES?
Facebook has been embroiled in a massive data scandal after it was revealed that at least 87 million users’ data was harvested without their knowledge.
Much of the attention has been cast on how the firm collects data when users are on the site.
In a new blog post, Facebook has provided further details on how it tracks users when they’re off of the site.
It also means non-Facebook users are also tracked as they browse the web.
Here are some of Facebook’s services and plugins that collect data on users when they’re not on the site:
Social plugins
- Many sites have ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ buttons that connect to Facebook, while many apps or sites use ‘Facebook login,’ which allows you to log into another site or app using your Facebook account
- This collects your IP address, browser and operating system information and the address of the website or app you’re using.
Facebook Analytics
- The firm says it helps websites and apps ‘better understand’ how people use their services.
- It gives websites and apps information on which users are visiting their site, based on demographics like age, gender and location, as well as what they click and how much time they spend on the website.
- This collects your IP address, browser information and cookies.
Facebook ads and measurement tools
- These enable websites and apps to show ads from Facebook advertisers, run their ads on Facebook or elsewhere and glean more data on ad campaigns.
- Facebook’s main services for this are the Facebook Audience Network, Facebook Pixel and Facebook ad measurement.
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