Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#161

Post by usefulcat » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:31 PM UTC

cylinder wrote: post #127

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

Why do people keep the Facebook app installed? I use it in the web browser and it works just fine, while sort of sandboxing it within Chrome.

Maybe they haven't heard of Tinfoil, a wrapper around the FB mobile site.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.danvelazco...

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#162

Post by billiam » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:32 PM UTC

tl;dr It is probably common Wifi in a specific setting.

Cmon, HNers. You're better than this. This obsesssion with "listening" to what you say is so twentieth century. Metadata beats data anytime. with the surround of information that comes from auth, apps, and FB usage, there's no problem associating people that meet each other, then immediately check FB.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#163

Post by untog » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:44 PM UTC

cylinder wrote: post #127

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

Why do people keep the Facebook app installed? I use it in the web browser and it works just fine, while sort of sandboxing it within Chrome.

Because "people" aren't even aware that this stuff can happen. I actually think it's far more likely that in this situation the other person did a search, but most people wouldn't even consider that a simple search could result in you ending up on a "People You May Know" list.

TL;DR: people don't know because they aren't savvy, and that isn't their fault. Those of us who do know should do a better job, but no, I have no ideas how either.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#164

Post by astazangasta » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:46 PM UTC

anysz wrote: post #145

heimatau wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a solid example, in relation to the OP comment. Since you didn't know her name. But...there is still a possibility that you had mutual friends and her face popped up. I used FB a lot and FB cycles many friends multiple times, in the hope that someone connects with you. I'm really good a remembering faces and well, this was what happened to me, numerous times. I might not knew the person in January but in July…

We had no mutual friends. I actually have 0 friends on Facebook. I use it as a media outlet. All my recommended friends come from my iOS Contacts, by phone number. So the fact she popped up is absurd

How is this possible even in principle? Location tracking might be one explanation - they certainly have access to the data - but it seems implausible for Facebook to be suggesting you friend every goddamn person you walk past. They couldn't have known you thought she was attractive, so what gives?

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#165

Post by mikestew » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:46 PM UTC

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

You hand the cashier a credit card, she thinks you're cute, too. Cashier reads name on credit card, wonders "if he's on Facebook", looks you up and there's your connection. Something something Occam's Razor.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#166

Post by komali2 » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:46 PM UTC

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

I once tried out Tan-tan, China's version of Twitter. I was idly swiping away until I saw, on one girl, "you have crossed paths with her twice!" underneath which was a Baidu maps frame showing Balboa Park station.

Swiftly uninstalled.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#167

Post by astazangasta » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:47 PM UTC

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #158

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

Playing devils advocate here - isn't that supposed to be helpful? As in, what an amazing capability to be able to do that.

How is it helpful to have a computer tell me who I should be friends with?

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#168

Post by overcast » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:47 PM UTC

nutmeg wrote: post #116

Another anecdotal-data-of-sample-size-one, my wife was at a bar and struck up a conversation with another person to whom she had no connections. After she left, Facebook suggested this person as a friend. The other person may have searched for her on Facebook, causing her to be listed as a possible friend. Or perhaps Facebook uses location data to group people that are in the same location for an extended period of t…

It's definitely related to searches. That other person was doing the classic Facebook background check.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#169

Post by imbeau » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:48 PM UTC

joshstrange wrote: post #151

koyote wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very off-topic but what is your real-world use case for such an app? The site lists a couple but most of those seem to make more sense when using a recording app in the traditional, explicit, way (e.g. "we are having a meeting, I will record this meeting").

So honestly it's best use case is "gotcha". As in you didn't know I was recording and you said something stupid and now I have a recording. Likewise if you are talking to someone and you say something along the lines of "Are you sure about that?" or "Can you confirm this is what/how you want me to do this" and then you record the audio for later incase they come back and say "I never said that". For myself I went the…

Besides the creepiness, the law around recording people without them knowing (one-party consent) is state-by-state

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#170

Post by overcast » Wed, May 25, 2016, 3:48 PM UTC

lmm wrote: post #140

cylinder wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do people keep the Facebook app installed? I use it in the web browser and it works just fine, while sort of sandboxing it within Chrome.

It performs a bit better. It can fit better on a small screen without the browser chrome. It handles loss of connection a lot better.

That's the opposite of my experience when I was using Facebook(a year ago). The app was awful, crashed regularly, and was much slower retrieving data. The mobile version was a much smoother experience.