Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Science
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Science News / Period tracking apps caught sharing sexual life details with Facebook
  • Science

    Period tracking apps caught sharing sexual life details with Facebook

    Shubham Sharma
    Written by
    Shubham Sharma
    Twitter
    Last updated on Sep 11, 2019, 01:17 pm
    Period tracking apps caught sharing sexual life details with Facebook
  • In an extremely shocking case, a number of period-tracking apps have been caught sharing sensitive details with Facebook.

    The apps, which include renowned names like Maya and MIA Fem, were spotted sending a lot of personal stuff, including things like monthly timings, logged use of contraception, menstruation symptoms, mood, and sexual life.

    Here's what went down.

  • In this article
    Privacy International revealed the sharing practice Facebook's SDK responsible for sharing No explicit consent was taken And now, they are making amends Facebook blamed the matter on app developers
  • Research

    Privacy International revealed the sharing practice

    Privacy International revealed the sharing practice
  • Just recently, a UK-based advocacy group called Privacy International took a close look at several menstruation tracking apps.

    They dug into the code of the programs and discovered that many of them were sharing extensive details about women with Facebook and third parties.

    More worryingly, some of the apps accused of the practice had millions of downloads on the Google Play Store.

  • Issue

    Facebook's SDK responsible for sharing

    Facebook's SDK responsible for sharing
  • The analysis by Privacy International revealed that the sharing happened via Facebook's own software development kit.

    Normally, the SDK helps developers integrate Facebook's features (such as like/share buttons) into their apps, but in this case, it provided a means of data-sharing.

    The revelation raised major alarms as "the data you share with your menstruation app is probably information you would not share with others."

  • Consent

    No explicit consent was taken

  • Now, Facebook has long been collecting web activity of users by allowing developers to integrate some of its tools into their website and apps.

    The tracking helps with ad-targeting, but given the confidential nature of information in this particular case, it is pretty shocking that the apps didn't take explicit consent of the users before sharing their data.

  • Changes

    And now, they are making amends

  • After the report went viral, several apps, including Maya, MIA Fem, and Pinkbird, removed the SDK in question.

    John Paul, the CEO of the company behind Maya, said they only collected information necessary for the functioning of the app, and added they "will continue evaluating our privacy policy and align ourselves to global best practices on data privacy."

  • Facebook's response

    Facebook blamed the matter on app developers

    Facebook blamed the matter on app developers
  • Meanwhile, Facebook held app developers responsible for misusing its tools to collect private information on users without permission.

    "Our Terms require the app developer to be clear with their users about the information they are sharing with us and to have a lawful basis for the disclosure and use of data," the company said, without explicitly saying it used this information in any way.

  • Facebook
  • Security
  •  
Latest News
  • Manchester City secure a 20th successive win: Records broken
    Manchester City secure a 20th successive win: Records broken
    Sports
  • COVID-19 vaccination: Private hospitals can't charge more than Rs. 250/shot
    COVID-19 vaccination: Private hospitals can't charge more than Rs. 250/shot
    India
  • Road Safety World Series T20: All you need to know
    Road Safety World Series T20: All you need to know
    Sports
  • Iga Swiatek wins Adelaide International, captures second career title
    Iga Swiatek wins Adelaide International, captures second career title
    Sports
  • 2021 Volkswagen Arteon sedan to be launched in India soon?
    2021 Volkswagen Arteon sedan to be launched in India soon?
    Auto
Trending Topics
Samsung OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Latest Gadget Launch MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ COVAXIN Latest Tech News Upcoming Mobile Phones
Next News Article
Share
Cancel

Want to share it with your friends too?

Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin
Copied

Love Science news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Science News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Bharti Airtel Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League Samsung Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma
Cricket News YouTube Hollywood News WhatsApp Bollywood News ISRO Yoga Honda Batman Football News
BMW Vaccine Reliance Jio OPPO Food News, Healthy Recipes Royal Challengers Bangalore Toyota Fashion Tips Farmers Protest Mohammed Bin Salman
Mercedes Europa League Isha Ambani India Vs England Cricket OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Marvel Comics Avengers Neha Kakkar
Premier League Big Bang Theory X-Men TATA
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us News Reviews News Archive Topics Archive Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2021