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Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

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Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#51

Post by reitanqild »

abalone wrote: post #24
MichaelGG wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FB just recently shot their credibility though by making statements that seemed very dishonest regarding their content bias. I don't think it's a big issue but it'll look that way. It'll cause people to think twice -- who knows, maybe next week FB will announce "a bug in the code sometimes accidentally listened to a few users' phone calls" and "we are reviewing our auditing mechanisms to ensure this doesn't happen ag…

What were the "very dishonest" statements?

For a very real example of facebook bias a group created two Facebook groups full of similar hatred but directed at two different ethnic groups.

One was shut down almost immediately, one was still up when the video was posted.

Won't name them as I don't want to drag politics into HN but I am fairly convinced it is repeatable (and if anyone is interested in giving it a try I can try to dig out a reference and post.)

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#52

Post by Aoyagi »

drcross wrote: post #45
therealmarv wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about the program. It's about the network... you cannot switch a network when all your friends and colleagues use WhatsApp and their groups. But I'm happy WhatsApp is more secure than most of the alternatives with good E2E encryption support.

> with good E2E encryption support. They say there is good E2E encryption. Great claims require great proof.

The only great proof would be opensourcing it completely, and I don't see that happening.

Then again, Moxie said he himself oversaw the implementation of the encryption and that he has trust in it...

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#53

Post by f_allwein »

pmontra wrote: post #30

Just use the mobile web site. I'm doing it because of the zillion of permissions the FB app ask and it is good enough. However they could do it with Whatsapp. There is no alternative to that.

Also, Trillian supports FB messaging, so you can install this instead of any FB app: https://www.trillian.im/

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#54

Post by SlashmanX »

jchendy wrote: post #49
yoz-y wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On iPhone the problem was that FB left a bug (according to FB) in the application which made it play silent audio in background. Incidentally this meant that the app was able to bypass the iOS restrictions on background processes. Whether it really was a bug or intentional is a subject of debate though.

Why would they intentionally play silent audio?

For those auto-playing videos in the news feed? They play without sound unless you tap on them

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#55

Post by yoz-y »

jchendy wrote: post #49
yoz-y wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On iPhone the problem was that FB left a bug (according to FB) in the application which made it play silent audio in background. Incidentally this meant that the app was able to bypass the iOS restrictions on background processes. Whether it really was a bug or intentional is a subject of debate though.

Why would they intentionally play silent audio?

On iOS your application can not stay fully active for more than 10 minutes. After that time it gets into suspended state and can be waken up only when it receives a notification (and the wake up time also has time limitations). There are only three exceptions to this rule: active GPS usage for maps and trackers, active voice calling apps (for ringing) and music apps that are actually playing audio. Silent audio thus enables Facebook to stay alive forever.

This had also the effect that when you were listening to music or a podcast and opened the FB app it would stop playing your audio.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#56

Post by anfroid555 »

pmontra wrote: post #30

Just use the mobile web site. I'm doing it because of the zillion of permissions the FB app ask and it is good enough. However they could do it with Whatsapp. There is no alternative to that.

Alternative is don't create an account..... feeling like people are saying things about you? Get a hobby

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#58

Post by tdkl »

onewaystreet wrote: post #5

No. This is one of those tech urban legends that keeps popping up. Facebook does have an opt-in feature that can identify what music, tv show or movie you are listening to or watching, but that's it. http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/05/a-new-optional-way-to-sh... https://www.facebook.com/help/iphone-app/369513256545845

That's what they say.

One of the urban legends was also that USA government agencies don't collect data at bulk and they were lying about it. We know the truth now.

Facebook has been caught with the hand in the cookie jar too many times already and got away with it. Fuck Facebook.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#59

Post by HappyTypist »

tdkl wrote: post #58
onewaystreet wrote: post #5

No. This is one of those tech urban legends that keeps popping up. Facebook does have an opt-in feature that can identify what music, tv show or movie you are listening to or watching, but that's it. http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/05/a-new-optional-way-to-sh... https://www.facebook.com/help/iphone-app/369513256545845

That's what they say. One of the urban legends was also that USA government agencies don't collect data at bulk and they were lying about it. We know the truth now. Facebook has been caught with the hand in the cookie jar too many times already and got away with it. Fuck Facebook.

No. I work for Facebook. This doesn't happen.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#60

Post by touristtam »

piyush_soni wrote: post #18

Android M above ( N ) you can disable various permissions asked by an app. I have disabled everything for Facebook (except storage). No location, contacts, microphone, calendar, phone, sms or even camera. You're not allowed here, facebook. So it can't do much damage for at least those versions of Android.

this is the feature that made me adopt a phone with MIUI on it. prevent application from access what ever, whenever they feel like it.
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