On Friday, Facebook launched a new feature that allowed app developers to get access to the personal information of app users.  Namely, the new program gave app developers access to users’ names, phone numbers, and addresses.  Three days later, and Facebook has suspended its data-sharing feature after a huge public outcry.  I think technology bloggers got whiplash from the whole ordeal, as Facebook initiated and yanked the process before most people could even realize it had started!

“As with the other information you share through our permissions process, you need to explicitly choose to share this data before any application or website can access it, and you can not share your friends’ address or mobile number with applications,” say Facebook, who still disabled the information sharing program despite the warnings.  “We got some useful feedback that we could make people more clearly aware of when they are granting access to this data.  We agree, and we are making changes to help ensure you only share this information when you intend to do so.  We’ll be working to launch these updates as soon as possible, and will be temporarily disabling this feature until those changes are ready.  We look forward to re-enabling this improved feature in the next few weeks.”

Well, if you can say anything about Facebook, it’s that they’re quick to respond to public complaints and are willing to change their privacy policies faster than they once were.  The fact that they remain unconcerned about user privacy until after users complain is still troublesome, but what can you expect in the age of digital voyeurism?

Tags: Facebook, personal data sharing, Facebook suspends data sharing, sharing personal data with apps, Facebook suspends data sharing apps program, apps can access your name and address, apps collecting personal information on Facebook, Facebook apps collecting personal data, API, Facebook API

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