Why Is Facebook's App Asking To Read Your Text Messages?

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The bad news: Faceook's app is asking to read your text messages. The good news: At least they asked. ;)

Over the last month or so, a few keen-eyed Android users may have been startled by some peculiar permission requests when they tried to update their Facebook app. One request asks to "read your text messages (SMS or MMS)."
Click to expand...
 
When I noticed that earlier this month, that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I uninstalled the facebook app from my android devices, and just use the web browser. I use Trillian for messaging on facebook with my phone & tablet.
 
Half of the apps I added for my new phone wanted stuff like:
Read/send SMS
Know status of phone calls
Read SD card

I think some of it is just boilerplate stuff that the app isn't even programmed to do, but you never know
 
No way am I ever installing an app from a spyware company on my phone intentionally.

No thanks. Use the web browser if you absolutely have to use that site.
 
Rooted my phone and have the basics on it, i dont need all this extra crap these days!
 
az_max said:
Half of the apps I added for my new phone wanted stuff like:
Read/send SMS
Know status of phone calls
Read SD card

I think some of it is just boilerplate stuff that the app isn't even programmed to do, but you never know
Click to expand...

even flashlight apps do that. the devs claim that's for anonymous usage stats. pfff
 
That's android right there...

You need XPrivacy to get rid of those, which you cannot use without root.
 
No no NO
I can probably explain that one myself with Kit kat's policy changes however the read kicker is:

Why does Facebook want "Send Emails to guests without owners' knowledge"

I kid you not. I'm on old version because of this. I'm not okay with this for any reason.
 
xinco said:
When I noticed that earlier this month, that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I uninstalled the facebook app from my android devices, and just use the web browser.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Next step will be deleting my account entirely if they keep pushing it.
 
Their PR crisis prevention is a fail. How about the traditional way where the user enters the confirmation code manually instead of scouring through their SMS.

"So we’d like to provide more info about how we use them ... If you add a phone number to your account, this allows us to confirm your phone number automatically by finding the confirmation code that we send via text message."
 
Why is it that everytime this is brought up everyone down plays it? Example:

"This app will look your mama up and down and take her to dinner"
"What? Why would it do that for?"
"Oh, don't worry. It's needed to do some mundane things in the background. It's just google who makes us write all these things -- you know, like legalese".
 
More than likely Facebook is working on combing messenger with SMS.
 
More likely Facebook feels like it isn't making enough off of your personal data anyways and is trying for more.
Relax, pretty soon, Facebook is going to hide a few lines in there that every picture you take with said phone running the app is instantly property of Facebook.
Unless Google beats them to it.
Then rejoice!
All those nude/ half nude selfies you 13 year old daughter takes of herself behind your back will wind up sold off to a Russian porn site.
 
SGA76 said:
More likely Facebook feels like it isn't making enough off of your personal data anyways and is trying for more.
Relax, pretty soon, Facebook is going to hide a few lines in there that every picture you take with said phone running the app is instantly property of Facebook.
Unless Google beats them to it.
Then rejoice!
All those nude/ half nude selfies you 13 year old daughter takes of herself behind your back will wind up sold off to a Russian porn site.
Click to expand...

Just as long as they give her some of the money.
 
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