Responds to allegationsTablets News By Jools Whitehorn Monday at 09:14 UTC | Tell us what you think [ 2 comments ]
Tweet
Is Facebook getting too nosey? The Sunday Times has alleged that Facebook has been reading users' text messages.
In the report, the paper claims that Facebook "admitted" to reading text messages via the Facebook mobile app during testing prodedures for a new messaging service.
The latest privacy furore comes in the wake of the Path address book uploading and Google's browser security measure evasion.
"No reading of user text messages"Facebook responded to the Sunday Times' allegation, telling Business Insider the following:
"There is no reading of user text messages.
"On the Android App store, the Facebook app permissions include SMS read/write.
"The reason it is on there is because we have done some testing (not with the general public) of products that require the SMS part of the phone to talk to the Facebook App. That's what the read&write refers to – the line of communication needed to integrate the two things.
"Lots of communications apps use these permissions. Think of all those apps that act as replacements to the build-in sms software.
"That's not necessarily what we're working on. SMS can be used for carrier billing (where users opt to pay for things like apps through their phone bill). Again – that's not to say we're launching this. It's just an example of why an app might use these permissions. The Sunday Times leap to the conclusion that is was a messaging feature.
"Anyway – we have yet to make any such features available to the public. (so the Sunday Times is completely wrong when it says Facebook is reading people's SMS. Wrong on the terminology, and wrong on the suggestion that it has been implemented).
"Just for our own testing"The company finishes its statement by agreeing that it is right that the SMS access permission is flagged up on Android phones before installation: "Facebook is right to insert this into the Android app permissions – because yes, the app technically has the capability to integrate with the phone's SMS system – even if that is just for our own testing."
So at least Facebook asks for access to text messages when its app is downloaded, but as users become more wary of what information they are giving up to apps, companies could start to think twice about asking users to lay bare their mobiles for the sake of a spot of testing.
Via Business Insider Tags: Facebook, Sunday Times, SMS, text message, privacyTweetreddit!StumbleuponComment on this article Your comments (2) Click to add a new commentartifact2. Facebook might not read them but the FBI does.
Alert a moderatorunlixes1. What? Sorry, they include the ability to read/write SMS because they play around with it in development? That's part of the problem with a lot of apps these days, users don't want to download them because of their wide-ranging permissions requests. It's becoming ever more difficult to ensure that apps are only given the access you want them to have (why do Lloyds need access to my contacts book?) - that's just made worse by people requiring permissions to things they aren't even using.
Ridiculous.
Alert a moderator Tell us what you thinkYou need to Log in or register to post comments By submitting this form you agree to our Terms of Use and so are legally responsible for anything you submit. DO NOT submit anything which may violate the Terms of Use or another person's rights including copyrighted or offensive materials.
Submit Explore News LaptopsTablets Related News Today's Facebook 'would have been an app'Yahoo threatens Facebook over patentsApp stores to enforce privacy policies before downloadIt's a browser privacy crapfest!Facebook hacker jailedGoogle and Facebook bypassing Safari security Related Reviews UPEK Eikon to Go Digital Privacy Manager for MacFacebook phone: 3 INQ1 
Google and Facebook bypassing Safari security Force-feeding cookies
Tablets@TechRadarOur guide to the best new tablets:
LatestTablet reviewsXoom 2Transformer PrimeWindows 8Android 4.0Sony Tablet SSony Tablet PKindle FireMotorola Xoom 2Galaxy Tab 8.9Top ratedEee Pad SliderGalaxy Tab 10.1Asus TransformeriPad 2 & iPadiPad 2 pricesiPad 2 reviewiPad reviewiPad tipsiPad 3Best free appsiPad appsiPad gamesHoneycomb appsAndroid gamesAndroid appsPlayBook appsWindows appsBest paid appsAndroid apps40 iPad apps
Plus
Best Android tabletsBest iPad alternativesSearch tabletsiOS 5iCloud
MWC 2012: all the latest detailsLatest phones and tablets unveiled
Find a review
15 best Android tablets in the worldTwo new entries in our list of the best Android tablets
Hands on: Windows 8 reviewUp close with the developer preview of Microsoft's new OS
TechRadar PollDo you subscribe to a film streaming service?
YesNo, not enough contentNo, I love physical mediaNo, too expensiveWhat's film streaming?Vote Results Where am I?Technology NewsTech newsApple newsMobile phone newsTablet newsTV newsCamera newsPC component newsPC newsLaptop newsInternet newsGadget newsGaming newsHome cinema newsHi-fi newsTechnology ReviewsDigital camera reviewsCamcorder reviewsMobile phone reviewsMP3 and iPod reviewsNetworking reviewsPC reviewsPC component reviewsLaptop reviewsTablet reviewsTV reviewsBlu-ray reviewsHi-fi reviewsTechRadarAbout usContact usSitemapReport this pageAccessibilityMedia enquiriesTerms and conditionsPrivacy policyAdvertising enquiriesJobsMore from TechRadarRegister & email newsletterFacebookTwitterYouTubeRSS feedsForumsPhone dealsSell your old mobileTechRadar Network3D RadarTap! magazineMacFormat magazinePC Format magazinePC Plus magazineLinux Format magazine
Copyright 2006 - 2011 Future Publishing Limited,
30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW, United Kingdom
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Ultrabooks hit by processor delay 
Intel Ivy Bridge vs Sandy Bridge 
iPad 3's are ready to leave China for the United States 
Apple iPad 3 rumours: What you need to know 
Today's Facebook "would have been an app" 
Yahoo threatens Facebook over patents 
Best Android phone - which should you buy?
20 best mobile phones in the world today
Best phones for music 2012
Posts
