Facebook in trouble again for sharing user data with phone makers

Facebook is on the defensive again over how it handles people’s personal data. Under scrutiny this time is the company’s practice of sharing information about its users with dozens of smartphone and tablet makers.

A New York Times investigation published late on Sunday revealed the scope of data-sharing deals Facebook struck over the years with companies like Apple, Samsung and Microsoft.

The partnerships give some device makers access to Facebook users’ education history, relationship status, work, religion, political leaning and upcoming events, the Times reported.

In a blog post, Facebook confirmed some parts of the Times’ report but disputed others. It said it forged partnerships with around 60 companies back when mobile phones were less powerful and app stores did not yet exist. The social media company said it gave device makers access to software only so they could build versions of Facebook that worked on different phones or operating systems.

“These partners signed agreements that prevented people’s Facebook information from being used for any other purpose than to recreate Facebook-like experiences,” Ime Archibong, Facebook’s vice president of product partnerships, wrote in the blog post.

“We are not aware of any abuse by these companies,” he added, noting that Facebook has been “winding down access” to the software.

The New York Times reported that Facebook also gave device makers “access to the data of users’ friends without their explicit consent, even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders.”

Facebook disputed that finding, saying that “friends’ information, like photos, was only accessible on devices when people made a decision to share their information with those friends.” But the revelations quickly drew criticism and concern.  “It’s worrying that so many companies had access to this data, particularly in light of security and privacy concerns,” said Michael Veale, a technology policy expert at University College London.

He suggested it’s “hugely possible that other apps on some devices could have been mining this data if the privacy and security controls were lax.”  US Congressman David Cicilline, who has introduced a bill intended to curb Facebook and Google’s influence in the news industry, said the Times report raises questions about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg’s testimony before Congress earlier this year.

“Sure looks like Zuckerberg lied to Congress about whether users have ‘complete control’ over who sees our data on Facebook,” Cicilline wrote on Twitter. “This needs to be investigated and the people responsible need to be held accountable.”  Apple, Samsung and Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Facebook is under increasing scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators and users around the world over its handling of users’ data and the steps it takes to protect their privacy.