Facebook denies reading your text messages but say's it could if it wants to.
Facebook has denied a report in the Sunday Times in London that the social network is secretly reading the text messages of users who have downloaded its mobile app.
The Facebook app permissions list posted on the Android Market does, in fact, include permissions that allow the company to edit, receive, read or send SMS messages, which would allow the company to integrate its services with text messaging.
In a Facebook note, the company’s European communications lead Iain Mackenzie called the Times piece ”disingenuous” and clarified several points in the article.
“Just as an aside. . . we didn’t say we’re launching a messenger product,” Mackenzie wrote, reiterating that the company only uses the read/write permissions listed in the terms and conditions of the app in limited testing with people who know what is being tested.
According to a survey commissioned by the Times, 70 percent of respondents said that they do not check what permissions apps require before downloading them.
A close look at the app permissions list does show Facebook can edit, receive, read or send SMS messages on your behalf.
The bottom line is to be aware of what you're agreeing to — if you're not comfortable giving a company that kind of control, don't agree to an app's permissions.
Other well-known companies accessing smartphone users' personal data -- such as text messages -- include photo-sharing site Flickr, dating site Badoo and Yahoo Messenger, the paper said.
It claimed that some apps even allow companies to intercept phone calls -- while others, such as YouTube, are capable of remotely accessing and operating users' smartphone cameras to take photographs or videos at any time.
Security app My Remote Lock and the app Tennis Juggling Game were among smaller companies' apps that may intercept users' calls, the paper said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/facebook-denies-report-its-snooping-through-texts/2012/02/27/gIQAkGPydR_story.html?tid=pm_business_pop
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/26/facebook-spies-on-phone-users-text-messages-report-says/