back to article Facebook iOS app silently turns on your phone camera. Ah, relax – it's just a bug, lol!?

Facebook’s iPhone app has a new feature – and one that netizens aren't too happy about: it opens the phone’s camera app in the background without your knowledge. A number of users have noticed the unusual behavior and posted videos demonstrating it. In each, the rear camera is clearly turned on and can be seen behind the main …

  1. Snowy Silver badge
    Flame

    Which is it

    [/quote]Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity Guy Rosen responded to one of the tweets stating that it “sounds like a bug, we are looking into it.”[/quote]

    What is the bug the camera turning on or the users noticing the camera turning on?

    1. David 132 Silver badge

      Re: Which is it

      I'd be more concerned about his intended meaning of the word "it".

      "We're looking into...

      ...our users' homes"?

      ...our users' reactions to each advert we show them?"

      ...the abyss of impending failure as people increasingly realize how much we are data-mining every facet of their existence to use against them"? (unlikely, but I can dream.)

      1. SundogUK Silver badge

        Re: Which is it

        I'm more concerned that Facebook have a VP of Integrity. I mean, seriously?

        1. pakman
          Big Brother

          Re: Which is it

          I'm more concerned that Facebook have a VP of Integrity. I mean, seriously?

          If they have a VP of Integrity, they must also have a President of Integrity. Now that is scary!

          1. Fungus Bob

            Re: Which is it

            The VP of Integrity is a mythological creature and reports to the Lichen Covered Three Toed Sloth of Change.

        2. noisy_typist

          Re: Which is it

          It's a part time job.

        3. BebopWeBop

          Re: Which is it

          It is a matter of balance - they decided they needed one to balance the VP of corruption,

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Which is it

            But the only real difference between the two is that the VP of Integrity's swipe card doesn't get him into the Department of Evil.

        4. BillG
          Devil

          Re: Which is it

          Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity putting things on top of other things Guy Rosen responded to one of the tweets responded snickering that it “sounds like a bug, we are looking into it - SUCKERS!!!

          FIFA.

          1. Stoneshop
            Big Brother

            Re: Which is it

            Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity putting things on top of other things pulling your leg

            Beware especially of his superior, who can pull both your legs at once.

        5. Kiwi
          Trollface

          Re: Which is it

          I'm more concerned that Facebook have a VP of Integrity. I mean, seriously?

          It's a typo in the article. Once you realise what the 'VP' is you'll understand.

          "VP of Integrity" is short for "Very Poor Integrity"

    2. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge
      Big Brother

      Re: Which is it

      It is a 'hidden feature' until it is discovered then it suddenly morphs into a 'bug'

      FB is [see icon] in all but name.

      1. Chris G

        Re: Which is it

        Bugs traditionally, are what spies and government agencies use to eavesdrop and spy on you.

        Sounds to me that that is exactly what it is here.

        I bet FB has perfect back up for all of it's data in Utah.

    3. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: Which is it

      The bug is the Facebook UI failed to completely cover the standard iOS camera UI, which it presumably uses so iOS doesn't get shouty about in-app camera permissions.

      The people responsible will receive a suitable written warning and told to fix it, which means this time they will make the Facebook UI cover the camera app properly.

      1. Porco Rosso

        Re: Which is it

        Apple should kick FB apps and the ones who use there service off there App Store for 2 months.

        But Tim hans't the .... to do that.

        and true more and more business users are sending enquiry's by Whatsapp ..

        1. Jimmy2Cows Silver badge

          Re: Which is it

          Balls. It's ok, you can say it. We're (usually) all adults here.

          1. Stoneshop
            Headmaster

            Re: Which is it

            I think Porco Rosso would lean to the word 'cojones'.

    4. Zippy´s Sausage Factory

      Re: Which is it

      The bug is that people were able to see it happening...

    5. Adrian 4

      Re: Which is it

      'We have no evidence of photos/videos uploaded due to this.'

      That's not the same as 'it didn't happen', though, is it ?

      Could mean 'we didn't look very hard', or 'we made sure we destroyed all the evidence'. But it's a common defence and once that always makes me suspicious.

    6. Michael H.F. Wilkinson Silver badge
      Coat

      Re: Which is it

      One could almost call this app a bug-eyed monster

      Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll get me coat

  2. ashdav
    Flame

    Burn It !

    Delete/uninstall/burn/whatever Facebook.

    You don't need it.

    It's the most insidious software you can ever put on your devices.

    "But I need to keep in touch with my family/friends" Use the phone or email.

    I expect incoming downvotes but I don't care.

    Facebook is evil, nuff said.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Burn It !

      I still use it occasionally, but have disabled the app and use it only thru the web UI.

      I've noticed MUCH less battery drain, and it feels slightly less rapey.

      1. Richocet

        Re: Burn It !

        The reduced battery drain is a strong sign that the app was broadly mining data off your phone and sending it back to the mothership.

        Battery consumption (and data consumption) are symptoms of this activity that can't be hidden.

    2. TReko

      WhatsApp too?

      But their empire is big.

      Try getting by in many parts of the world without their other product, WhatsApp. Who knows what if it also grabs the camera

      1. Tromos

        Re: WhatsApp too?

        Try getting by without it? Can't be that difficult. Humanity has managed to do without it for several millennia. I find e-mail and using one of the mobile phones rarely used facilities, making a call, seem perfectly adequate for keeping in touch with people and even, gasp, arranging to meet face-to-face.

        Then again, I have a lot less than the several hundred friends that most facebook users seem to have, so it's probably easier for me to interact with them without the aid of Mr Zuckerberg's (dis)services.

        1. heyrick Silver badge

          Re: WhatsApp too?

          "Try getting by without it? Can't be that difficult."

          The only times I've ever had a Facebook app is when it came preinstalled, and even then it was never used. WhatsApp? That's some sort of Skype-like thing isn't it? As you can guess, never used it. Never plan to. I get by. Just as people did long before this stuff even existed.

        2. NATTtrash

          Re: WhatsApp too?

          Don't get me wrong, I agree with Tromos, and only have to charge my phone one every 2-3 weeks.

          But looking around me, what baffles me is that I see more and more official institutions, governments, medical services, banks use WhatsApp. I mean, for example how to guarantee and confirm the legal obligations they have (e.g. privacy, data confidentiality) when your communication is handled by a out-of-reach, non-inhouse US commercial organisation? You've overdrawn? No worries, WhatsApp message sent to remind you. Your pregnancy or cancer screening test turned out positive? Don't call us, we'll send you a convenient WhatsApp message. You think I ventured out to George Orwell land? Nope, we're talking GDPR countries IRL reality here...

          Then again, as we know, the human species is inherently stupid and ignorant (I should stop sentence here, right?) when somebody claims "convenience", "essential", or snickers "Don't be so old fashioned! Remember, it's all free!"

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: WhatsApp too?

            Our HR department tried to start using WhatsApp for official comms with staff, they only notified us they were going to for all hell to break loose and for it to be knocked on the head before it started.

            WhatsApp FFS!

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Devil

              "Our HR department tried to start using WhatsApp"

              Why knowing the average composition of a HR department, that doesn't surprise me?

              1. Stoneshop
                Facepalm

                Re: "Our HR department tried to start using WhatsApp"

                We've been told to use MS Teams for business communication, and WhatsApp only for social chats. Me, I use neither. If someone needs to get hold of me they can call me, and occasionally I see a Skype message pop up on my workstation. Which I reply to using email, if at all.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: WhatsApp too?

        Try getting by in many parts of the world without their other product, WhatsApp.

        How did we ever manage before social media?

        How did we [insert feat of human endeavour here] BEFORE Social media was sadly invented?

        We did just fine. Half the planet mange without Fartbook or any other social media app.

        Remember, Social Media is an addictive drug. If you can't get by without an hourly fix, you are clearly addicted and time to go to SMA.

        1. Stoneshop
          Headmaster

          Half the planet mange without Fartbook

          French is not that widely spoken.

      3. Cynical user

        Re: WhatsApp too?

        WhatsApp has uses for group-based text messages and also photo/video messaging, although the "free WiFi" generation seem content to use it for all messaging too. Aye, we have this amazing invention called text messages....

        On Android at least, you can nail down the permissions to gallery and keyboard only. Deny call and camera permissions and hey presto. But you're right, wherever FB are involved.....

      4. Jimmy2Cows Silver badge
        WTF?

        Re: WhatsApp too?

        Try getting by in many parts of the world without their other product, WhatsApp.

        You're actually serious, aren't you?

        Has to be the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a while. Anyone who says they can't get by without WhatsApp has a severe neurological disorder.

    3. IceC0ld

      Re: Burn It !

      Facebook is evil, nuff said.

      use it ONLY via a PC, and only the one PC, it was the first thing to be deleted from my phone, which I only use to make calls, do a few txts an the odd picture, I know I'm the odd one out here, but I really don't get the whole online all the time thing, don't people LIKE privacy anymore ?

      and when I say I use FB on a PC, there are no pictures in my profile, and the 'friends' are mainly from the online radio I work with, so a pile of musicos I don't have any real life interaction with, just keeping up to date with their gigs etc, use it as a tool, it functions for that, don't have family on there, got a couple of real life friends so we can annoy each other every now and then

      doubt it worries Mr Zuck to much, but I also reckon he is pulling data from the little bit I AM giving ffs :o(

      1. iron Silver badge

        Re: Burn It !

        You do not go far enough. Never use Facebook, you really don't need it for anything. I never have.

    4. eldakka
      Mushroom

      Re: Burn It !

      Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Burn It !

        I'm not sure, Zuckerberg volcano lair can be deep enough to survive. It's better to jail him directly.

  3. This post has been deleted by its author

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Says something about a company

    When they feel they need to have a ‘Vice President of Integrity’ rather than having it as a corporate ethos.

    1. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
      Alert

      Re: Says something about a company

      Vice President of Integrity, reporting to the President of Information Kleptocracy

    2. Dan 55 Silver badge
      Big Brother

      Re: Says something about a company

      Vice President of Data Integrity?

      1. Stoneshop
        Big Brother

        Re: Says something about a company

        President of Integral Vices?

  5. Mark 85
    Big Brother

    Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity

    Now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one. Just the idea of "integrity" and "Facebook" in the same sentence brings laughter.

    Icon: What Facebook does best.

    1. Richocet

      Re: Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity

      Well having Vice and Integrity in the same title is a conflict.

      Maybe it means President of Vice and Integrity.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity

      Do you think we give a shit?

      Signed: Facebook VP Rhetorical Questions

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Big Brother

      Re: Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity

      Called also Vipint and working in Minitrue.

  6. Bendacious

    Bulletproof

    The saddening, maddening, thing is that none of this matters. The number of active Facebook users and the share price will carry on climbing. This is probably a bug but if it turns out to be a deliberate choice for Facebook to watch and listen to everything happening around a user's phone, even to people nearby who do not use Facebook then it will be business as usual. Only doomsday preppers or the odd one in the unlit corner of the IT department will notice or care. 2.45 billion monthly active users as of September 2019. An 8 percent increase year-on-year. We can quibble over the word 'free' but they offer a quite amazing free service to people who don't realise all those services are available elsewhere with minimal effort. Minimal effort being an insurmountable hurdle for most people. Why bother, it's right there? Since the WWW came along I've seen a few companies attempt to capture it and brand it as their own. Anyone remember the AOL browser that gave you everything you'd ever need, sanitised and monetised? It was fun watching MSN fail to be The Internet. For billions of people Facebook is The Internet. They provide the messaging, the news, the games, the recipes, the porn. Wikipedia comes to them through Facebook. I've seen recently a few people say that what happened to Myspace can happen to Facebook but I've lost faith in that. I think it's here to stay and here to be The Internet for most Internet users. I suspect our only hope is legislators forgetting who their biggest donor is and who offers them exec-director positions after their political careers and them writing some legislation to make Facebook do the right thing. I for one will be holding my breath until that happens. n.b. charitable donations instead of flowers for the funeral.

    1. teknopaul

      Re: Bulletproof

      Increasingly the retoric in Washington is that these big tech monopolies are necessary for national security. If they manage to sell that idea these services might get banned outside the US as a matter of national security. :0)

      We can but hope.

    2. Matt_payne666

      Re: Bulletproof

      I totally agree with your insight, I too thought that Facebook could go the way of myspace, AOL, friends reunited, MSN Messnger, etc... but its just so ingrained in so many users lives that I cant see anything bringing it to its knees... you cut off one head and it will grow two more....

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Bulletproof

      " for one will be holding my breath until that happens."

      I don't think I've ever seen anyone that shade of blue before!

    4. Stoneshop
      Pirate

      Re: Bulletproof

      for one will be holding my breath until that happens

      You're holding it wrong.

      It's Zuckerberg's breath you need to hold, to start with.

    5. prinz

      Re: Bulletproof

      You forgot to add small business web hosting - more and more I cannot even see the info about a small business without having to go to FB because the small business owner thinks their FB "site" is awesome because they get social networking, web hosting and instant updates, without any of that "icky" IT stuff.

      This even applies to larger companies - their FB pages (and Twitter) are updated before their main web pages - the former controlled by a non-technical person, the latter by "icky" IT people.

      Your observation is that FB is "The Internet" is absolutely spot on.

  7. Ashentaine
    Facepalm

    >There are of course countless other ways to buy things and send people money without using Facebook Pay but the company hopes that simplicity will cause users to share their personal financial information with Facebook.

    And regrettably many people will do just that out of curiosity of how well it works, especially if it can be done automatically by clicking a big shiny button. And then they'll use it a couple times, and when the novelty wears off just forget about it and not even stop to think that giving such sensitive data to Facebook might not have been a great idea.

    1. Oengus
      Facepalm

      The paranoid in me wonders how long before Facebook accidentally inserts a bug that exploits Facebook Pay to fund Facebook with micropayments for each click on the App.

  8. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Big Brother

    Listening

    "There is the lingering allegation that the Silicon Valley giant is listening all the time, via phones... "

    What are the permissions on Zuckerberg's phone and has he put a sticker over the cameras?

    1. teknopaul

      Re: Listening

      Same as the permissions on his wife and childrens phones.

      They never talk about who, inside Facebook, has access to user data do they?

    2. iron Silver badge

      Re: Listening

      You think he installed an app for suckers? lol

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The best job in the world

    Facebook - Vice President of Integrity

    Getting paid X amount of pounds and being expected to do nowt? Oy facebook gizza job.

    Ishy

  10. James 51
    Devil

    The obvious solution for Facebook getting access to transaction records is the same as Google getting access to health records, buy access to the data through a business venture and pinky promise to not merge data sets (until you do).

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Holmes

    Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

    How about it, El Reg? Do we really need those social media buttons?

    1. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

      It appears they're not stalky buttons, so if you get Facebook cookies set it's down to your own lack of willpower.

      I guess this means we should be happy that El Reg is supping with the devil with a long spoon.

      1. Amentheist
        Black Helicopters

        Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

        No, the FB one is a tracky one, Firefox's Facebook Container extension (developed by Mozilla, and reassuringly offered after a fresh install of FF) flags it and blocks it (if uBlock doesn't scrub it 1st that is, sorry Reg <3).

        There are other containers too for amazon and LinkedIn (I was surprised how many bits of the internet go back to those two). But I digress.

      2. iron Silver badge

        Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

        They very much are stalky buttons and always have been.

        1. Dan 55 Silver badge

          Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

          I disabled Disconnect and uBlock, opened developer tools, went to Network, reloaded a story page, and found the Facebook button went to www.register.co.uk.

          There is a 1x1 image called bpix.bmp which goes to cloudfront.net but I don't believe that's Facebook, but another ad network. It's in EasyList.

          Based on that I don't think the FB button is stalky, unless anyone can point out where I went wrong.

          1. Mage Silver badge
            Big Brother

            Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

            The default example FB code on FB for a FB icon is terrifically stalky javascript and maybe illegal in the EU. However some websites simply put the icon image and a link, no javascript.

            1. Dan 55 Silver badge

              Re: Now's the time to remove those little 'f' buttons on every page

              Ok, I think I know where it went wrong in this thread.

              By "the FB button" I mean the one on El Reg, not the generic one on most websites which I'm well aware is stalky.

  12. Andy The Hat Silver badge

    Clarification

    " There is the lingering allegation that the Silicon Valley giant is listening all the time, ... though the biz has always denied explicitly doing this."

    Have they always denied explicitly doing this OR have they explicitly denied doing this?

    One would feel the first suggests they are actually doing it but indirectly (ala Gargoyle Street View just happening to collect wi-fi data), the second says they are not ...

  13. Nick

    "If you do that, however, within a day the Nest app will prompt the user and explain that without access to their locations the app may not work properly."

    This sort of thing does my nut in. My Bose headphone-manager app requires access to my location in order to run. Why on earth does it need that? As a result, I feel the need to keep installing/uninstalling these sorts of app once I've used them for what I need to do.

    Same for airline, taxi, etc. apps.

    1. Dan 55 Silver badge

      That's Google, apparently an ability to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices means the location permission is needed under the presence that the app could be building up a MAC address list which could then be used to find out your location.

      I rather think the real reason is forcing other apps to badger you into turning on location services so the Google apps can have a go at finding your location.

      1. Kiwi
        Big Brother

        I rather think the real reason is forcing other apps to badger you into turning on location services so the Google apps can have a go at finding your location.

        Recently a change with Android (at least under 6 - sorry I'm not the sort to replace perfectly find hardware just to change the software without a very good reason!) meant that wifi scanning apps (like signal strength meters) have to have GPS enabled for them to work. They worked perfectly fine without it previously, after all they'ye only showing you info on the WiFi signals they receive and don't actually need a GPS location to work (I know coz my tablet has an easy-to-remove back and the GPS antenna seems to mysteriously be modified and disconnected when I'm not using it......)

        The only logical conclusion I can see is that google, since they made the change, wish to be getting more info about what devices are in a particular area.

        Haven't come across needing GPS to do BT yet, but so far the only BT device I use is the car stereo.

        One of these days I'll look at the other Android offerings and perhaps buy a tablet based on their "supported hardware" lists. Really keen on one with a functioning compass sensor.

  14. D@v3

    other spurious permissions

    I recently had call to re-install facebook on my phone (after a few years of peace) so that i had convenient access to information about a gathering i was attending. Opened up the FB app, (first time on a new ish phone) and it already knew who i was. When the app was opened, i got a pop up asking for access to my Bluetooth! which was promptly blocked. As soon as i had met up with my friends, i removed the app.

    1. werdsmith Silver badge

      Re: other spurious permissions

      The app sucks up your contacts and sends them to Faecebook HQ.

      Next time ask a friend to do the meeting comms on your behalf. Don't dirty yourself with Faecebook filth, despite the protestations of the weak willed who sustain this poison, there really no need.

    2. Dan 55 Silver badge

      Re: other spurious permissions

      Use something like Tinfoil for Facebook (or similar) which is a browser wrapper with no access to your contacts.

  15. iron Silver badge

    > granting location access to the Nest app is only useful in one specific scenario – if you want the app to prompt you when you arrive or leave your home

    I can usually tell when I arrive or leave home. The front door is a big clue. Why the hell would I want a prompt on my phone to tell me I'm home?

    1. Kiwi
      Paris Hilton

      granting location access to the Nest app is only useful in one specific scenario – if you want the app to prompt you when you arrive or leave your home

      I can usually tell when I arrive or leave home. The front door is a big clue. Why the hell would I want a prompt on my phone to tell me I'm home?

      Thanks. I was wondering if I'd misread that. Too early and too much blood in my coffee-stream for me to have gone back and re-read several times to be sure it was written how I read it.

      Being able to see my car park space is another clue, as is the cat claws impatiently heading groin-ward if I delay adding food to bowl... Either I'm home or my city really cheaped out on architecture and landscaping!

  16. STOP_FORTH
    Angel

    FBI

    FaceBook Integrity!

  17. The Central Scrutinizer

    Lulz...

    Yeah, I just can't wait to give Facebook my financial credentials.

  18. }{amis}{
    Gimp

    Apples Response

    Given that apple has a long history of kicking apps out of the app store at not notice I have to wonder how the facebook app is still allowed?

    Or is it just that the ones who have the gold make the rules?

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The peasants are revolting

    And pretty stupid as it turns out.

  20. Lord Elpuss Silver badge

    I noticed this. Whenever I watched a video clip in landscape then switched back to portrait, FB left me on the "Welcome to Facebook Camera! Click below to enable in Settings: screen.

    The app doesn't (and will never) have camera access, but if I didn't have access disabled and hence get bounced to a welcome screen/error message, then it would have silently opened in the background.

    And yes it's a bug that they got caught this easily. The person responsible for coding in such an obvious manner will undoubtedly be disciplined, and the team will be mandated to not be so damn sloppy in future and at least TRY to not get caught.

  21. scrubber

    Facebook is a greater threat than crypto

    The data biz stresses that Facebook Pay is not connected to its Libra cryptocurrency plans which have been met with widespread alarm from financial regulators and lawmakers

    The reason there was alarm about Libra was because Facebook was involved, not because it was a cryptocurrency (hint: it would not be a cryptocurrency if it were ever put into practice)

  22. Steve Evans

    Quelle surprise...

    On Android the Facebook apps (FB itself, and Messenger) were such a battery killer when I tried them that I couldn't help but wonder what they were doing. Even if they weren't doing anything "naughty", they were obviously so badly written that they needed deleting.

    Haven't used them for years. FB prevents access to m.facebook.com from mobile chrome, trying to push their apps, but they only filter on the browser user_agent field, so it's easy enough to either fake that or find a different browser which isn't spotted. Been using FB like that for years, haven't felt like I've been missing out on anything. Sure I don't get "ping" every time a contact posts a picture of a cat, but surely that's an added benefit!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Quelle surprise...

      [quote]

      FB prevents access to m.facebook.com from mobile chrome,

      [unquote]

      Really? Facebook through Chrome seems to running perfectly happily on my phone.

      Anon because I can't be ar*** to deal with the grief from people who think they are so superior they don't need to communicate with friends or family through what is, for better or worse (okay, mostly for worse) the easiest way to keep in touch...

      Oh, did I say superior? I'm sorry, I meant lonely :-)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        @AC - Re: Quelle surprise...

        I really do hope for you that FB is paying you somehow.

        Oh, by the way, if I have a phone I can already communicate with friends and family. No need for FB.

      2. ma1010
        Pirate

        Re: Quelle surprise...

        Well, you're just the fellow I'm looking for! I've got a red-hot deal for you on some of these new Farcebook Libra. Meet me over behind the big parking garage by the oak tree, and I'll happily convert any cash you have to Farcebook Libra. Small, unmarked bills only, please.

  23. Peshman

    Bravo!

    ...And if you are willing to do that, having read the rest of the story above then there is no hope for you.

    Ain't that the truth.

  24. Sgt_Oddball
    Paris Hilton

    There's a thought....

    Why don't the permissions have a timeout setting, like sudo for example?

    Allow camera/mic for 10 mins then back in your box with you and ask like a good app again when you need access for something I'm actually telling to you do?

    Then even if they try this sort of shit, it's only for as long as a user has let them.

    Paris because I'm sure they'd still try and figure a way around it.

  25. dnicholas

    "Bug"

    The bug was that it was supposed to be the front camera

  26. adam payne

    Facebook’s Vice President of Integrity

    Integrity...Facebook = ROFL

  27. Mage Silver badge
    Flame

    Simple answer

    Ditch it.

    1) Anyone with Facebook needs email to register, so email family and friends.

    2) Corporate support? Get your own website.

    3) Advertising? Stop funding this immoral US Mega corp. They lie about responses achieved, they've admitted it. Also targeting may break religious, gender, income, race/ethnic discrimination laws in many countries.

  28. SVV

    Facebook Pay supports most major credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal

    In the context of sentences like this, you should read the word "supports" as "is planning to take over from" and add "and dominate the entire world" at the end.

    As for the "I only use Facebook for....." thing, just remember that it isn't the only thing that Facebook uses you for.

  29. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    So does YouTube, among others. It's hard to hide on a phone with a pop-up camera.

  30. pacman1137

    Don't trust facebook with anything...

    They don't have any real people to talk to... they don't even post a help telephone number for things like incorrect billing(currently i'm on the hook for thousands of dollars of fraudulent ad charges that were billed to my credit card which i used once with FB in 2013)....this is a multibillion $$ company with no means to contact them for anything, based on exploiting your privacy!

    As for your camera's, always assume they could be on. Cover them up, put the phone out of view when not in use.

    1. Kiwi
      Trollface

      As for your camera's, always assume they could be on. Cover them up, put the phone out of view when not in use.

      The one laptop I owned that had a camera when I received it didn't have one very soon after. The microphone also got a hardware switch added to make sure that was only on when I wanted it (thankfully a mic on a lead vs on-board).

      One older tablet I had used wired USB cameras (a single module for both), so again a hardware switch was easily added to that (one advantage of buying 2nd hand). Currently I use insulation tape if I'm bothered but... I often watch some YT stuff before going to sleep, I sleep naked, and I am not exactly young, trim and fit.. If anyone wants to watch me sneakily they bloody well deserve what they see!

      (now if there's a way to have it transmit 'other' images....)

      --> Me when I was much purdier then I am today...

      1. Aussie Doc
        Windows

        Hahahaha.

        You're me and I claim my $5.

        Me all dressed up ------------------------>

  31. Aussie Doc
    Big Brother

    Yeah, sure.

    "We found no evidence that..."

    Translated: "We didn't look all that hard lest we incriminate ourselves."

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    FB, pull the other one!

    They would have been more believable had they claimed "they slipped in the shower".

  33. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What integrity?

    What would a "Vice President of Integrity" actually do at Facebook?

    Is this person in charge of search for their missing integrity, along with the moral fibre?

  34. Mark192

    You're getting it wrong

    Lots of comments about Facebook secretly using your camera for spying on you, with suggestions it's so they can target advertising more effectively (!?).

    This is unlikely as the consequences for Facebook would be huge while the benefits are marginal.

    What we should be paranoid about is states gaining access/control over apps (and or the companies) and using these apps to spy.

    The problem we've got is that the paranoid & secure (you lot) aren't generally the activists working for social change (naive people in constant contact with everyone they know through Facebook et al).

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