Moves app reneges on privacy promise, will share data with Facebook
When fitness tracking app Moves was purchased by Facebook in late April, both companies sought to allay worries of privacy-minded users by saying there would be no data "commingling" between the software and the giant social network. It appears the statement was only partially true.
It was discovered on Tuesday that Moves has quietly updated its privacy policy from last week to allow for data sharing with "Affiliates," including new parent company Facebook, reports The Wall Street Journal. The policy change was first seen on Monday.
Under the new terms, users' information can be shared with third-party companies to facilitate support and diagnostics, as well as other seemingly perfunctory functions.
"We may share information, including personally identifying information, with our Affiliates (companies that are part of our corporate groups of companies, including but not limited to Facebook) to help provide, understand, and improve our Services," the policy reads.
The language seems to contradict a notice posted to Moves' official website less than two weeks ago when the company announced its acquisition by Facebook.
"For those of you that use the Moves app - the Moves experience will continue to operate as a standalone app, and there are no plans to change that or commingle data with Facebook," the post said.
For its part, Facebook maintains that data commingling will not occur, a common fear for privacy advocates when a large data-driven company buys out a smaller service. Similar concerns were raised when Facebook purchased popular messaging app WhatsApp in February for $16 billion.
As for the new Moves changes, Facebook said the following in a statement provided to Mashable:
"Commingling, or merging, data would allow us to identify Moves users who are also Facebook users - we have no plans to do that. In other words, Facebook is not adding Moves user data to a Facebook user's Facebook account. But, Facebook will be providing support and services to the Moves app and to be able to do this, we have to have access to the data that Moves already collects from its users - which is 'sharing' data."
In order to support the provision and operation of the Moves app, Facebook will need to have access to the Moves data. Such support for Moves may include performing technical maintenance and developments of the service that improve the experience with the app."
It was discovered on Tuesday that Moves has quietly updated its privacy policy from last week to allow for data sharing with "Affiliates," including new parent company Facebook, reports The Wall Street Journal. The policy change was first seen on Monday.
Under the new terms, users' information can be shared with third-party companies to facilitate support and diagnostics, as well as other seemingly perfunctory functions.
"We may share information, including personally identifying information, with our Affiliates (companies that are part of our corporate groups of companies, including but not limited to Facebook) to help provide, understand, and improve our Services," the policy reads.
The language seems to contradict a notice posted to Moves' official website less than two weeks ago when the company announced its acquisition by Facebook.
"For those of you that use the Moves app - the Moves experience will continue to operate as a standalone app, and there are no plans to change that or commingle data with Facebook," the post said.
For its part, Facebook maintains that data commingling will not occur, a common fear for privacy advocates when a large data-driven company buys out a smaller service. Similar concerns were raised when Facebook purchased popular messaging app WhatsApp in February for $16 billion.
As for the new Moves changes, Facebook said the following in a statement provided to Mashable:
"Commingling, or merging, data would allow us to identify Moves users who are also Facebook users - we have no plans to do that. In other words, Facebook is not adding Moves user data to a Facebook user's Facebook account. But, Facebook will be providing support and services to the Moves app and to be able to do this, we have to have access to the data that Moves already collects from its users - which is 'sharing' data."
In order to support the provision and operation of the Moves app, Facebook will need to have access to the Moves data. Such support for Moves may include performing technical maintenance and developments of the service that improve the experience with the app."
Comments
Glad I deleted this app.
Yeah, I read about it on Facebook.
Glad I deleted this app.
It's becoming a big problem avoiding FaceBook and other spies.
They gobble up the small social sites to add to their stable of victims.
Unfortunately the spy Apps and Web sites are increasingly rapidly.
I refuse them access to my personal info and they refuse me access to anything of theirs!
You'd have to be an idiot to think a company like Facebook would spend all that money for a software purchase and not do what whatever they please with it.
"They trust me — dumb fucks"
- Mark Zuckerberg
"will continue to operate as a standalone app"... true, even if that means "for a short time after we transmit this statement"; still true.
"there are no plans to change that or commingle data with Facebook"... also true, even if those plans DID exist soon after.
Idiot's Doctor to nurse, "Prepare the app user for a high colonic... he's still got some data up there somewhere..."
Deleted the App as well. It's a shame, it was a good App.
Come iOS 8, I suspect this app was about to become highly irrelevant anyway.
Nike was smart enough to see that.
Current users are equally silly in assuming to ask, and should expect Facebook's Policies on data collection/sharing to be the only policy.
Deleted the app and my data when they announced.
You deleted the data on your phone...they still have their copy.
- it is your data
- if you agree to share it under conditions x and y, it should not be made your burden to adapt if the company changes them.
That would make FB's predatory behavior much less efficient. Right now, they pretty much can bank on the fact you invested time in the app/data, and keep that investment hostage...
"We have no plans" is always a statement about the current reality. If that reality changes after the statement is made (even 5 minutes after) that doesn't change the truth of the statement.
Scheduling a meeting to make data-sharing plans for 5 min. after posting the statement is both slimy and not surprising in the least. Hey - it's Facebook!