According to the paper[1], "[the research] was consistent with Facebook’s Data Use Policy, to which all users agree prior to creating an account on Facebook, co

According to the paper[1], "[the research] was consistent with Facebook’s Data Use Policy, to which all users agree prior to creating an account on Facebook, constituting informed consent for this research." The Onion AV Club bit quotes "internal operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, testing, research and service improvement" as part of the FB policy. If that's really the part they're relying on, informed consent doesn't mean much. [1] http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full