Summary:
In October 2017, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that many of Facebook's top-rated apps had been transmitting identifying user information to dozens of advertising and internet tracking companies. The investigation claimed that the issue affected tens of millions of Facebook users.
Allegations:
- The Wall Street Journal claimed the Facebook apps were not just transmitting the names of apps users to advertisers, but also to the names of their friends in some cases. The problem affected users with private profiles, and this was a breach of Facebook's rules on privacy.
- The investigation found that all the top 10 apps on Facebook such as games from Zynga like FarmVille, Texas HoldEm Poker, had been transmitting users' ID to outside companies. The Journal said that the apps reviewed by its reporters were sending user data to 25 ad and data-tracking companies.
Defence:
- Facebook acknowledged the problem, with a company spokesman saying that the company would take steps to dramatically limit the exposure of users' personal information.
- Facebook later said that there was no evidence of any personal information being misused or even collected by these app companies, and called it a technical challenge that needed to be fixed.