Facebook Knows Your Details

[dannyboy]

I was not sure whether to put this in the 'Angry' thread or not. It may be common knowledge, but I was not aware.

Apparently when someone joins 'Facebook', (or any 'Meta' company), they have the option to upload their contact list. If they opt for this, any contact they have listed is stored by Meta, unknown to the person whose details have been stored.  . A way to check if Meta have your details, without your permission, is to use
https://www.facebook.com/contacts/removal

I have just checked this and both my mobile number and email address were there - they are not there now!
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The following is taken from an email I have received from 'Malwarebytes' - I am sure they will not mind me repeating it here -
It's common knowledge that Facebook knows everything about you, even the data you choose to withhold. Take, for example, your contact number or email address. Many of us opted out of giving this away when we signed up for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram because we didn't want to be searchable using these pieces of data.

But, alas, many of us have realized that even if we don't provide data to Meta directly, someone else will. When someone signs up to any of Meta's services, they are asked if they want to share their entire address book to make it much easier to find connections. This is how Facebook got hold of details even if the user had never had a Facebook account.

Thankfully, we now have a tool to delete and keep our contact numbers and email addresses from Facebook permanently, even when someone we know agrees to share their entire address book.

[port perran]

Well worth sharing David.
I use Facebook (in a rather limited way) but have been extremely diligent in checking all of my settings.
They make understanding their settings incredibly complicated in a deliberate and flagrant attempt to ensure that people don't understand them and, therefore, don't change anything.
It's also worth checking the settings on a regular basis as they alter them from time to time.
It's also worth checking your advertisement settings. I get no adverts now but again you need to keep on top of the settings on a regular basis otherwise they creep back in.
Facebook is, in my opinion, a useful tool but one to be regarded with deep suspicion and mistrust.

[dannyboy]

They make understanding their settings incredibly complicated in a deliberate and flagrant attempt to ensure that people don't understand them

The following is another snippet from the email I received -

"According to Business Insider, Meta quietly rolled out this tool sometime in May 2022, but the company didn't say anything about it. The link to the tool appears to be pretty much tucked away in an obscure page in Facebook's help section where no user typically ventures".

[port perran]

They make understanding their settings incredibly complicated in a deliberate and flagrant attempt to ensure that people don't understand them

The following is another snippet from the email I received -

"According to Business Insider, Meta quietly rolled out this tool sometime in May 2022, but the company didn't say anything about it. The link to the tool appears to be pretty much tucked away in an obscure page in Facebook's help section where no user typically ventures".

It is certainly worth scrolling through ALL of their incredibly convoluted settings. And Google any that are not obvious.

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

Exactly the reason I don't do any of the social media platforms and use throw away email addresses for forums such as this.

Cheers

Paul

[Bealman]

I'm actually on facebook, but I never go there. I don't even have anything to do with the forum facebook.

Sorry, boss!

[dannyboy]

Hi

Exactly the reason I don't do any of the social media platforms and use throw away email addresses for forums such as this.

Cheers

Paul

The point is Paul, you don't need to do any of the social media platforms. If anybody you know, (it could even be an acquaintance from years ago), has uplooaded their contract list to Facebook etc., and you are on that list, you are in the system, whether it is a throw away email address or not - and your contact number(s) are there!

[Newportnobby]

I'm actually on facebook, but I never go there. I don't even have anything to do with the forum facebook.

Sorry, boss!

I joined nearly 18 months ago so I could read reviews of a company I intended to use. I've never been on since and wouldn't even know my password if I tried. I gave them the bare minimum to get on so no contacts were added and I've heard nothing from Facebook ever, unless they messaged me on their own platform which I'm blissfully unaware of.

[Papyrus]

Apparently when someone joins 'Facebook', (or any 'Meta' company), they have the option to upload their contact list. If they opt for this, any contact they have listed is stored by Meta, unknown to the person whose details have been stored.  . A way to check if Meta have your details, without your permission, is to use
https://www.facebook.com/contacts/removal

I've just had a look at this. The problem is, of course, that you need to give them your phone number, and they will also get your email address, so even if they didn't have them before, they will now!



Cheers,

Chris

[Trainfish]

The problem is, of course, that you need to give them your phone number, and they will also get your email address, so even if they didn't have them before, they will now!



Cheers,

Chris

My thoughts exactly. If they didn't have it before, they do now 

It's a bit like sending 'unsubscribe' emails to companies. They send millions of spam emails to people and if you send an unsubscribe request all you have done is to confirm that your email address is active so guess what? You get more! Not necessarily from the same place but your details are passed on to others. Not all companies do this but those offering Thai brides and certain other questionable services are at it all the time.

[Papyrus]

I block all spam emails immediately. I only use 'unsubscribe' for genuine sites that I have used before but no longer want correspondence from.

Cheers,

Chris

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

Exactly the reason I don't do any of the social media platforms and use throw away email addresses for forums such as this.

Cheers

Paul

The point is Paul, you don't need to do any of the social media platforms. If anybody you know, (it could even be an acquaintance from years ago), has uplooaded their contract list to Facebook etc., and you are on that list, you are in the system, whether it is a throw away email address or not - and your contact number(s) are there!

Hi

Makes no difference as my details are not available to be uploaded so how are they going to get them?

Cheers

Paul

[Trainfish]

From someone else who does have your contact details and have inadvertently uploaded them.

[PaulCheffus]

From someone else who does have your contact details and have inadvertently uploaded them.

Hi

That's the point though they only have throw away email addresses. I don't own a phone so there wouldn't be a phone number to add.

Cheers

Paul

[Dorsetmike]

One of many reasons I refer to it as Faeces book; never used it, never likely to either.