Facebook’s commitment to user data protection is never-ending, and it is evident yet again. The social media platform came up with nine new changes in its data accessibility.
Starting today, April 5, the third-party apps using API won’t be able to access content on Event Wall, such as guest lists or posts. Facebook hints for an upcoming future were only ‘approved’ apps that agree to stricter requirements will have the Events API access.
It is the same for Groups, where third-party apps will need the approval of both admins and Facebook to use the API.
we’re also removing personal information, such as names and profile photos, attached to posts or comments that approved apps can access. – Facebook
The company wants to ensure that third-party apps provide the community with useful services. The Pages API is another element that requires approval to access these apps.
In case of login, apps will need approval (again) to access any kind of personal information of the user. Facebook writes further: “In the next week, we will remove a developer’s ability to request data people shared with them if it appears they have not used the app in the last 3 months.”
Facebook-owned Instagram program interface is also under the deprecation process implemented starting today. Similarly, using a phone number or email address on Search to find a profile has been disabled by social media.
This process has further touched on the call and text history issue that Facebook had to go through not long ago. The opt-in feature has been reviewed and concluded that message content is not recorded by Facebook. It will delete all logs older than a year. The data restriction entails the client to use only required info for letting users prioritize frequently contacted people on the social platform.
In the same context, Partner Categories is being shut down by Facebook as it lets third-party data providers offer to target directly on the platform.
We believe the Facebook information of up to 87 million people – mostly in the US – may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica. – Mike Schroepfer, Chief Technology Officer of Facebook
Last but not least, the firm ensures app controls for users starting April 9. This means that users will get a link at the top of the News Feed, showing all third-party apps they use on the platform. This as well provides the users with filtering the unwanted apps.
Addressing the new changes, Mike writes: “these changes will better protect people’s information while still enabling developers to create useful experiences.”
