A series of reports this week revealed that, for the past 10 years, Facebook’s has been sharing data not just with app developers but to phone companies as well.
Huawei is currently 3rd largest phone maker and made an agreement with Facebook, this agreement is considered as a cybersecurity risk due to its alleged ties to Beijing.
On Sunday, according to the report, Facebook admitted that it had data sharing partnerships with 60 device makers, including Apple, Samsung. According to the report these companies received access to user data, they could even access user’s friend’s data, in some instances, they could even access friend of friends information without their knowledge.
On Tuesday, Facebook revealed that it had the data-sharing agreement in place with several Chinese tech companies, including Oppo, Lenovo, TCL, and Huawei. These deal appear to be same to the companies. But Huawei, in particular, caused US government to speak, and they claim that Huawei devices could be used for spying. Facebook didn’t respond to the initially but told media that the deal with Huawei will be closed by the end of this week.
According to the Facebook, Huawei developed an App on its device that gave users a place to see all their messages and social media account together by using its access to Facebook data. Huawei said they had never collected or stored any Facebook user data.
Huawei’s actions are same as other companies, BlackBerry and Samsung integrated popular feature from Facebook, such as Like buttons and address books. BlackBerry Hub app which can retrieve data of friends of friends.
Huawei is treated as more of a concern because Huawei has ties to the Chinese government. In 2012, Huawei and fellow Chinese tech company as the serious risk to national security, claiming that their devices could spy on US citizens.
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei’s has the political background, he was a former engineer and started Huawei, this is another reason. Ren spoke up in 2013 to deny all allegations. FBI, CIA, and NSA recommended that US Citizens not use Huawei phones.
Huawei’s access to Facebook data may not have been any greater than other device makers, the authorities concerns whether the data could have reached Chinese servers.
