Facebook Suspends Tens of Thousands of Apps Over Data Hoarding Concerns
Facebook suspends tens of thousands of apps created by 400 developers for improperly collecting and exposing user profile data. The sweeping ban reflects the ongoing fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal and increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Facebook suspends tens of thousands of apps connected to its platform over suspicions that the software hoards large amounts of user profile data. This massive crackdown represents a sharp increase from the 400 apps flagged a year ago following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, with the social network attributing the recent wave of bans to roughly 400 different developers.
The company takes action against these applications for a variety of policy violations, including siphoning off private user information and making data public without protecting user identities. While Facebook confirms these recent suspensions, it claims it has not found additional instances of data misuse beyond previously disclosed cases like the Rankwave analytics firm and the myPersonality quiz app.
This sweeping cleanup occurs as federal authorities and lawmakers continue to investigate Facebook regarding various privacy and security breaches. Critics like Senator Ron Wyden argue that Facebook actively invites this type of data exploitation, calling for the FTC to hold Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible as the company promises its ongoing investigation will continue.