In May 2007, Facebook launched Facebook Platform, which opened up the site to outside developers, granting them unprecedented access to its core functions and changing Facebook from a closed social network into an open business forum.
But while this platform has benefited many, it raises concerns about user privacy. Because of their deep integration into Facebook, developers have extensive access to user information, but it is often unclear if, when and how they exploit this data. This situation is perpetuated by Facebook’s unwillingness to regulate the widgets that operate on the site. As a result, users often have no idea who is collecting their data, how information is obtained as one interacts with these applications and how such data – even so called not non-personally identifiable information – is subsequently used.
Read more in the report attached below.