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> because either way Facebook is getting your phone number. Correction - Facebook already got your numbers (and has been doing recommendations based on them).

by mtgx 10y ago

> because either way Facebook is getting your phone number. Correction - Facebook already got your numbers (and has been doing recommendations based on them). I've been noticing Facebook recommendations based on Whatsapp numbers I have for many months. So they already have the numbers. But they're probably legally obliged to announce it in a privacy policy change that they will use them to target ads at you.

kingosticks 10y ago
They surely do have my numbers i.e the phone numbers in my address book (for other people), but do they actually have my number? Every time I visit the facebook website i get a popup asking me to update my profile with my phone number. Note that I do not have the facebook app installed.
- newscracker 10y ago
  Even in your case, there are some possible ways for Facebook to know your number. People on your "friends" list may have allowed Facebook to sync their contacts (and allowed continuous sync) from their address books on email accounts or with the Facebook app on their devices. Especially if any of them are or were using a version of Android older than Marshmallow (6.x), where app permissions are/were granted at installation time on an "grant all or can't-use-the-app" basis, here are the permissions they have definitely granted the Facebook application [1]: * Contacts find accounts on the device read your contacts modify your contacts * Phone directly call phone numbers read call log read phone status and identity write call log Even if different people in your address book use slightly different names to refer to you in their address books, it wouldn't take a lot for Facebook to figure out what your number is. And just because Facebook asks you for your number, it does not mean it isn't using information obtained from others. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.katana https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.k... (Check the Permissions section at the bottom of the app page and click on "View details" to see the list of permissions it asks for.)
rogy 10y ago
I find this so creepy. I get recommended people on facebook such as my Phsyio, whos number I don't even have saved. I've just spoken to him on Whatsapp. Bizarre.
- onedognight 10y ago
  Privacy requires both communicators to agree on the level. For example if your Phsyio's address book has your number and that address book is shared with Facebook, then Facebook knows the two of you communicate.
vithlani 10y ago
This. I got a recommendation to befriend a workmate's daughter. Workmate has no FB account, the only way they made the match was after he sent me a WhatsApp message.

by mtgx 10y ago

kingosticks 10y ago

They surely do have my numbers i.e the phone numbers in my address book (for other people), but do they actually have my number? Every time I visit the facebook website i get a popup asking me to update my profile with my phone number. Note that I do not have the facebook app installed.

newscracker 10y ago
Even in your case, there are some possible ways for Facebook to know your number. People on your "friends" list may have allowed Facebook to sync their contacts (and allowed continuous sync) from their address books on email accounts or with the Facebook app on their devices. Especially if any of them are or were using a version of Android older than Marshmallow (6.x), where app permissions are/were granted at installation time on an "grant all or can't-use-the-app" basis, here are the permissions they have definitely granted the Facebook application [1]: * Contacts find accounts on the device read your contacts modify your contacts * Phone directly call phone numbers read call log read phone status and identity write call log Even if different people in your address book use slightly different names to refer to you in their address books, it wouldn't take a lot for Facebook to figure out what your number is. And just because Facebook asks you for your number, it does not mean it isn't using information obtained from others. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.katana https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.k... (Check the Permissions section at the bottom of the app page and click on "View details" to see the list of permissions it asks for.)

rogy 10y ago

I find this so creepy. I get recommended people on facebook such as my Phsyio, whos number I don't even have saved. I've just spoken to him on Whatsapp. Bizarre.

onedognight 10y ago
Privacy requires both communicators to agree on the level. For example if your Phsyio's address book has your number and that address book is shared with Facebook, then Facebook knows the two of you communicate.

vithlani 10y ago

This. I got a recommendation to befriend a workmate's daughter. Workmate has no FB account, the only way they made the match was after he sent me a WhatsApp message.