The social network Facebook is repeatedly criticized. Now the platform is said to be misusing users' cell phone numbers for advertising.
Many services have been offering so-called two-factor authentication for some time. Anyone who uses this security feature must provide a phone number. This means that every account is protected against hackers without exception. If a stranger gets hold of the login details, they cannot complete the registration thanks to 2FA. To register an account on a new computer, the login must be confirmed using a PIN code - this is sent to the registered phone number. The method is considered particularly secure and is always recommended. Facebook also offers the function - but the service appears to misuse the phone numbers for advertising purposes.
Private does not always remain private
If this security feature is activated on Facebook, the service promises not to display the stored phone number – "Only you can see your number." Sharing it with third parties would also be impossible. However, this no longer appears to be the case – reports Jeremy Burge from Emojipedia. According to him, after activating 2FA, the mobile phone number would have been displayed directly in the profile and visible to "Everyone." This would also result in advertising calls and messages. Other users on Twitter have also confirmed this. Furthermore, it should no longer be possible to block the phone number. The "Only Me" option would no longer be available – the restriction would therefore only be possible to "Friends" or "Friends of Friends." This contradicts previous statements from Facebook itself, according to which they wanted to protect more data.
Change not available in all countries
However, this less positive innovation does not seem to be available in all countries. Facebook accounts in this country have not been affected so far. It cannot be confirmed whether this is related to the GDPR. However, a check would be beneficial. And this is how it works: Facebook – Settings and Privacy – Privacy at a Glance – Check some important privacy settings! Some personal information will now be displayed. After clicking "Next" once, you can see the phone number, email address, and birthday. "Only Me" should appear next to the cell phone number in the appropriate column on the right.
Tip: You should generally check your privacy settings on Facebook at regular intervals. Often, a harmless confirmation can cause the desired settings to be changed in the background.
