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Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

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Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#21

Post by MichaelGG »

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

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 again".

Is it a net gain for society if they're more wary, even if this particular instance is wrong?

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#24

Post by abalone »

MichaelGG wrote: post #21
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

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?

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#25

Post by piyush_soni »

abcd_f wrote: post #20
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.

Makes you feel being totally in control, doesn't it?

I understand you might be saying that sarcastically, but yes - as far as these specific permissions on my phone are concerned, I feel being in control (e.g. I know it can't record my voice even if it wants). I have otherwise given a lot of my information to both Facebook and Google, and I'm aware of the potential consequences.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#26

Post by MichaelGG »

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?

Saying that there was no bias in their news selection, when it should be readily apparent that having humans select thing would introduce bias. Not quite outright lying, as you might possibly think they're naive enough to think humans are unbiased, but I don't think they get the benefit of the doubt here.

IIRC they also started off saying it was all algorithmic.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#27

Post by lunula »

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

This could be rigorously studied. A group of people could attempt to plant false advertising opportunities in their speech and then measure the frequency at which related ads/posts arrive in their feed. I would trust something like this more than an assertion by FB that this is not happening.

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#28

Post by roywiggins »

haywirez wrote: post #13

https://mbasic.facebook.com has been amazing for me. I don't have Messenger nor Facebook on my phone, it's a faster and data plan friendly alternative. Not to mention no notifications.

I use Metal, which Appifies the mobile site. It even supports notifications, I think, but I turned them off.

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

Re: Is Facebook eavesdropping on phone conversations?

#29

Post by [deleted] »

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.

[deleted]
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