Facebook's flaw allowed strangers to interact with kids: Here's how

Facebook Messenger Kids is supposed to be a platform where kids chat with parties approved by their parents.

However, just recently, a technical error in the platform allowed children to start groups with unauthorized users.

Basically, the kid starting the group was able to add people authorized to chat with him/her, even if those people weren't approved to chat with other group members.

The permission system for group chats created the issue, letting kids start groups with people their parents had approved of while connecting unauthorized strangers with each other in the process.

It's not clear how long the issue had existed but Facebook told The Verge - which first reported the bug - it affected a small number of group chats, that have now been closed.

Along with closing those group chats, Facebook has also written to parents to inform about the issue.

"We found a technical error that allowed [CHILD]'s friend [FRIEND] to create a group chat with [CHILD] and one or more of [FRIEND]'s parent-approved friends," the company's alert to parents read, noting that "group chats like this won't be allowed in the future."

The latest issue revolves around the privacy of kids under 13 and could create major problems for Facebook under the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

To recall, the company is already facing a fine worth $5 billion from the Federal Trade Commissions over the privacy violations it had committed over the last two years, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal.