Facebook got into another scandal. The social network collected data about the sexual life of users
Everyone has known for a long time that the abstract Big Brother is watching everyone. But at the same time, the curiosity of popular social networks is always annoying. More than once distinguished himself in the field of neglecting the security of Facebook data, he found himself in the epicenter of another scandal. This time, he followed users through apps that help monitor women's health.
An investigation conducted by Privacy International, a non-profit organization for the protection of privacy, showed that the social network collected specific user data. This time Facebook has stuck its long nose into... data on menstrual cycles, sexual acts and contraception.
The information was entered into applications by users to calculate days favorable for conception or safe for unprotected sex. Facebook transmitted the data arrays using the Facebook Software Development Kit (SDK), designed for developers to work with additional functions of the social network and its advertising options.
One of the functions of this specialized software is the transfer of user data to the social network, which they share in applications. Having discovered the vulnerability, Privacy International specialists began checking the programs through which the leak could occur. Soon they were discovered — these are Maya and MIA Fem. The total audience of these applications is at least 7 million users.
A Facebook representative has already commented on the situation. He said that the developers are strictly prohibited in any way to transmit to the social network any data concerning the health of users. The company is already dealing with this problem and promises that measures against violators will be taken in the near future.
As always, anyone is to blame, but not the all-seeing and all-hearing Facebook.
Keywords: Intimate life | Contraceptives | Personal data | Mobile applications | Developer | Leak