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This is idiotic. For one, it's no secret which apps are popular. Facebook doesn't need a trojan horse to figure that out, they just need to look at App Annie.

This is idiotic. For one, it's no secret which apps are popular. Facebook doesn't need a trojan horse to figure that out, they just need to look at App Annie. For another, any app with location services permissions can do exactly what he's describing. Also what does "Android allows Facebook to do whatever it wants on the platform, and that means accessing the hardware as well," mean? Unless you're rolling your own version of Android (is that what's on the HTC First?) that's simply not true. You have access to a few things you don't on iOS but it's not "whatever you want" if you're putting it in the Play app store. As far as I can tell this is just another third party launcher with the same privacy implications as any app that has GPS permissions.

_jackwink 14y ago
Exactly, I don't see this any more privacy invasive than Google Now. It really boils down to how much you trust the company/app.
- infinita740 14y ago
  Yeah, google know your home and where your workplace is but doesn't publish it to everyone. Facebook did that with a lot of information. Plus it may change how things behave without you agreement (think of @facebook.com emails) Google also use that data to provide a service (automatically call the navigation app to came back home at night or just give you a reminder on places you go every week). I doon't think facebook will give any kind of service other than keep my friens updated about whatever I do and wherever I go and this is frightening (not the fact that a big company has this data but the fact that everyone will know it)
  - criley 14y ago
    Facebook doesn't publish that information for me. It's PAINFULLY EASY to mark that information private, and to go into the Platform settings and make sure your friends "cannot bring your information with them into apps and websites". It's two screens and takes about thirty seconds for you to control your Facebook and how much data leaves it. Seriously guys, don't blame Facebook for your incompetence with their privacy settings.
    - freehunter 14y ago
      A few years ago it was easy to blame Facebook for their privacy settings. They would make a privacy change and override your previous settings. Then the federal government stepped in and forced them to honor your explicitly chosen settings.
- nonamegiven 14y ago
  Why would you trust any company of that size?
  - trhtrsh 14y ago
    Why would you trust a smaller company, that lacks the talent and funds to audit its staff and partners or secure its databases?
RexRollman 14y ago
I agree. Besides, most people who use Facebook are those "I have nothing to hide" types.
- PavlovsCat 14y ago
  So? I still care about major parts of a society being that recklessly dumb. I live on this planet, it's my problem, too. I cannot afford to live in a "democracy" full of people who are so easily influenced and/or blackmailed. Their votes count as much as mine, so this is a bug.
  - trhtrsh 14y ago
    How do you blackmail someone who has nothing to hide?
    - summerdown2 14y ago
      Even people with nothing to hide can suffer the effects of making a mistake: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57565408-71/teacher-faces-firing-for-facebook-photo-of-duct-taped-students/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57565408-71/teacher-faces-... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354515/Teacher-sacked-posting-picture-holding-glass-wine-mug-beer-Facebook.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354515/Teacher-sack...
    - tripzilch 14y ago
      By making them suddenly realize that they do, in fact, have things they would rather keep private.
suyash 14y ago
I agree with OM, Facebook Home is not just one app but a suite of apps running on your phone. The scary part is that these would be bundled by OEM's and might be harder to stop and even uninstall :( Think about the scenarios when you start to see all kinds of ad's popping up on your home screen and impossible to remove? . Remember, fb still needs to solve the problem of serving ad's on mobile well.
- ramayac 14y ago
  Exactly, this is "the money quote": "The scary part is that these would be bundled by OEM's and might be harder to stop and even uninstall".
  - smokinjoe 14y ago
    I don't see how an informed consumer can't avoid this. I really started to dislike OEM's and decided to go Nexus. The number of bundled apps that went dead (Blockbuster went bankrupt and yet I was stuck with that app) or unsupported just drove me away. I understand that now instead of worrying about unsupported apps you have to worry about what these apps track in the background, however there are a number of other phone options - why not just use another? The appeal of this Launcher is there, it seems like a fairly clean interface that is satisfying to use, but like Facebook.com, if you don't feel comfortable using it, then you don't have to.
    - mattmaroon 14y ago
      Not to mention most OEMs put a custom launcher of some sort on their Android devices already and pretty much always have. I don't see Facebook as being any more odious than Samsung just because they know I like The Black Keys and Mad Men too. My phone's manufacturer could collect much more personal information about me than Facebook does. For all I know they're recording all my calls and uploaded them somewhere. Really it's just so easy in the tech blog world to get page views by decrying whatever Facebook does as an invasion of privacy and that's what Om is doing. He should be ashamed for writing such a brainless piece of linkbait.
danilocampos 14y ago
> As far as I can tell this is just another third party launcher with the same privacy implications as any app that has GPS permissions. Except for the part where no other app collects or maintains anywhere near as much data about your personal history, your friends, what you look like, what your friends look like, what you like, what your friends like, who you talk to, what you talk about, what your friends talk about, which services you subscribe to, where you went to school, where you worked, when you worked, when you graduated, when you began a relationship, when you ended a relationship, your sexual preferences... I could keep going.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- mattmaroon 14y ago
  Facebook already has that data and gives most of it away via connect to third parties with a click. If you're already using Facebook, and using location-based apps, then getting upset over this is silly.
  - danilocampos 14y ago
    You're free to feel any way you'd like. I don't have a strong opinion. That said – Facebook's long record of privacy over-reaches is well established. My hunch is that given the high value a smartphone, and its data, has in people's lives, a position of caution is probably a lot more reasonable than plugging one's ears and saying "Everything is going to be just fine." Software is changeable. Who knows what they'll do once they're entrenched. Who knows what will become possible.
- freehunter 14y ago
  Well, any other app could. Facebook is not exclusive in having access to this information, they're just one of the few asking you for it. Every other app could ask for it as well.
  - danilocampos 14y ago
fakeer 14y ago
>>As far as I can tell this is just another third party launcher with the same privacy implications as any app that has GPS permissions. No, it doesn't. I was, till recently, using Nova Launcher and its permissions would pale in comparison with Facebook Messenger's permissions. Mind it, I am not mentioning the full fledged Facebook app here but just the messenger. I am just uninstalling it, to hell with those in my friend list who have virtually ditched all other communication media.(never looked at it's permissions before today) Why, when WhatsApp and all other apps might be doing it(not mentioning any G app)? Track record. Facebook is a history-sheeter when it comes to privacy and the pledge to keep repeating their act is their business model. Otherwise Google already has everything I do. >>You have access to a few things you don't on iOS but it's not "whatever you want" Though it's technically true, the whatever you want part; but the part "have access to a few things you don't on iOS" is such an understatement that it leans towards being a bs.
- trhtrsh 14y ago
  What's the privacy difference between G+ and FB?
  - coopdog 14y ago
    FB is utterly careless with your data
    - philsnow 14y ago
      For all we know, the difference between google and facebook here is simply maturity of the company, and as facebook matures, it's very possible that they'll recant their privacy evilness, to the extent that they can. Here's what I mean by that last part: the facebook site/service are all about poking holes in your own privacy (in a controlled manner); it's just that currently, you might be carefully letting out bits of information, but facebook is off to the side hawking all of it to all comers, trying to be profitable. But yeah I agree, at its current stage of gestation as a company, facebook doesn't give a rat's ass about the privacy of your data.

_jackwink 14y ago

Exactly, I don't see this any more privacy invasive than Google Now. It really boils down to how much you trust the company/app.

infinita740 14y ago
Yeah, google know your home and where your workplace is but doesn't publish it to everyone. Facebook did that with a lot of information. Plus it may change how things behave without you agreement (think of @facebook.com emails) Google also use that data to provide a service (automatically call the navigation app to came back home at night or just give you a reminder on places you go every week). I doon't think facebook will give any kind of service other than keep my friens updated about whatever I do and wherever I go and this is frightening (not the fact that a big company has this data but the fact that everyone will know it)
- criley 14y ago
  Facebook doesn't publish that information for me. It's PAINFULLY EASY to mark that information private, and to go into the Platform settings and make sure your friends "cannot bring your information with them into apps and websites". It's two screens and takes about thirty seconds for you to control your Facebook and how much data leaves it. Seriously guys, don't blame Facebook for your incompetence with their privacy settings.
  - freehunter 14y ago
    A few years ago it was easy to blame Facebook for their privacy settings. They would make a privacy change and override your previous settings. Then the federal government stepped in and forced them to honor your explicitly chosen settings.
nonamegiven 14y ago
Why would you trust any company of that size?
- trhtrsh 14y ago
  Why would you trust a smaller company, that lacks the talent and funds to audit its staff and partners or secure its databases?

RexRollman 14y ago

I agree. Besides, most people who use Facebook are those "I have nothing to hide" types.

PavlovsCat 14y ago
So? I still care about major parts of a society being that recklessly dumb. I live on this planet, it's my problem, too. I cannot afford to live in a "democracy" full of people who are so easily influenced and/or blackmailed. Their votes count as much as mine, so this is a bug.
- trhtrsh 14y ago
  How do you blackmail someone who has nothing to hide?
  - summerdown2 14y ago
    Even people with nothing to hide can suffer the effects of making a mistake: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57565408-71/teacher-faces-firing-for-facebook-photo-of-duct-taped-students/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57565408-71/teacher-faces-... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354515/Teacher-sacked-posting-picture-holding-glass-wine-mug-beer-Facebook.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354515/Teacher-sack...
  - tripzilch 14y ago
    By making them suddenly realize that they do, in fact, have things they would rather keep private.

suyash 14y ago

I agree with OM, Facebook Home is not just one app but a suite of apps running on your phone. The scary part is that these would be bundled by OEM's and might be harder to stop and even uninstall :( Think about the scenarios when you start to see all kinds of ad's popping up on your home screen and impossible to remove? . Remember, fb still needs to solve the problem of serving ad's on mobile well.

ramayac 14y ago
Exactly, this is "the money quote": "The scary part is that these would be bundled by OEM's and might be harder to stop and even uninstall".
- smokinjoe 14y ago
  I don't see how an informed consumer can't avoid this. I really started to dislike OEM's and decided to go Nexus. The number of bundled apps that went dead (Blockbuster went bankrupt and yet I was stuck with that app) or unsupported just drove me away. I understand that now instead of worrying about unsupported apps you have to worry about what these apps track in the background, however there are a number of other phone options - why not just use another? The appeal of this Launcher is there, it seems like a fairly clean interface that is satisfying to use, but like Facebook.com, if you don't feel comfortable using it, then you don't have to.
  - mattmaroon 14y ago
    Not to mention most OEMs put a custom launcher of some sort on their Android devices already and pretty much always have. I don't see Facebook as being any more odious than Samsung just because they know I like The Black Keys and Mad Men too. My phone's manufacturer could collect much more personal information about me than Facebook does. For all I know they're recording all my calls and uploaded them somewhere. Really it's just so easy in the tech blog world to get page views by decrying whatever Facebook does as an invasion of privacy and that's what Om is doing. He should be ashamed for writing such a brainless piece of linkbait.

danilocampos 14y ago

> As far as I can tell this is just another third party launcher with the same privacy implications as any app that has GPS permissions. Except for the part where no other app collects or maintains anywhere near as much data about your personal history, your friends, what you look like, what your friends look like, what you like, what your friends like, who you talk to, what you talk about, what your friends talk about, which services you subscribe to, where you went to school, where you worked, when you worked, when you graduated, when you began a relationship, when you ended a relationship, your sexual preferences... I could keep going.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
mattmaroon 14y ago
Facebook already has that data and gives most of it away via connect to third parties with a click. If you're already using Facebook, and using location-based apps, then getting upset over this is silly.
- danilocampos 14y ago
  You're free to feel any way you'd like. I don't have a strong opinion. That said – Facebook's long record of privacy over-reaches is well established. My hunch is that given the high value a smartphone, and its data, has in people's lives, a position of caution is probably a lot more reasonable than plugging one's ears and saying "Everything is going to be just fine." Software is changeable. Who knows what they'll do once they're entrenched. Who knows what will become possible.
freehunter 14y ago
Well, any other app could. Facebook is not exclusive in having access to this information, they're just one of the few asking you for it. Every other app could ask for it as well.
- danilocampos 14y ago

fakeer 14y ago

>>As far as I can tell this is just another third party launcher with the same privacy implications as any app that has GPS permissions. No, it doesn't. I was, till recently, using Nova Launcher and its permissions would pale in comparison with Facebook Messenger's permissions. Mind it, I am not mentioning the full fledged Facebook app here but just the messenger. I am just uninstalling it, to hell with those in my friend list who have virtually ditched all other communication media.(never looked at it's permissions before today) Why, when WhatsApp and all other apps might be doing it(not mentioning any G app)? Track record. Facebook is a history-sheeter when it comes to privacy and the pledge to keep repeating their act is their business model. Otherwise Google already has everything I do. >>You have access to a few things you don't on iOS but it's not "whatever you want" Though it's technically true, the whatever you want part; but the part "have access to a few things you don't on iOS" is such an understatement that it leans towards being a bs.

trhtrsh 14y ago
What's the privacy difference between G+ and FB?
- coopdog 14y ago
  FB is utterly careless with your data
  - philsnow 14y ago
    For all we know, the difference between google and facebook here is simply maturity of the company, and as facebook matures, it's very possible that they'll recant their privacy evilness, to the extent that they can. Here's what I mean by that last part: the facebook site/service are all about poking holes in your own privacy (in a controlled manner); it's just that currently, you might be carefully letting out bits of information, but facebook is off to the side hawking all of it to all comers, trying to be profitable. But yeah I agree, at its current stage of gestation as a company, facebook doesn't give a rat's ass about the privacy of your data.