Facebook privacy app spied on users for market research, ACCC says

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The ACCC has brought proceedings against Facebook in the Federal Court as it believes the practices of an app it owned — which is now defunct after being delisted from app stores in 2018 — constituted false, misleading or deceptive conduct.

Facebook misled consumers by collecting sensitive personal data through an app it promised would protect their privacy, and leveraged it for market research, the Australian consumer watchdog has alleged.

The social media giant came under scrutiny when it transpired the app was sending analytical data back to Facebook, including information on people's usage of other apps and websites. Media reports at the time claimed Facebook used this data, in one instance, to identify its burgeoning rival WhatsApp as a target for aquisition.

“When people downloaded Onavo Protect, we were always clear about the information we collect and how it is used," the spokesperson said.

Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)

 

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