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WHEN FACEBOOK STOPPED users from accessing the messaging feature on its main app and directed them towards the Messenger app, it upset many people.
This wasn’t helped by panic over the number of permissions that the app requested on the Android version.
Despite many of them being standard practice (the reason why apps ask for those permissions is for basic app functionality), it received a vast number of negative reviews as a result.
The backlash may have been a little too much for the company, as one of the members from its Messenger team has put together a quick post explaining why it asks for certain permissions.
Those using the main app will have seen a banner saying how they can learn how the app really works.
You might have heard the rumours going around about the Messenger app. Some have claimed that the app is always using your phone’s camera and microphone to see and hear what you’re doing. These reports aren’t true, and many have been corrected. Still, we want to address some concerns that you might have.
The two main areas addressed was how the app actually uses the camera and microphone - if you’re taking a photo within the app, it needs permission to turn on your phone’s camera so it can capture it, and it doesn’t turn on your camera or microphone when you’re not using it.
It also explained why it’s asking people to download Messenger, stating that it allows people to respond to messages faster and is more efficient than on the main app.
Despite the backlash, Facebook’s Messenger app has been incredibly popular with more than 500 million Android users downloading it since it was first released.
In fairness, if I worked for Facebook, I’d have a nose at everyone’s messages. I think my neighbour might be cyber cheating on her husband of 58 years, and I’d love to see the filth she sends her new man.
For moral purposes of course.
You can still use messages if access fb on your phone’s browser. Facebook already runs 24/7 which uses enough cpu. Downloading a 2nd app which uses more cpu is stoopid considering you don’t need it
I just keep installing the messenger app and deleting it straight away. You’ll have use of the old messages for about 5 days!
Can you imagine Orwell’s take on all this?
He’d probably stick to twitter
The separate Messenger App is Pants. I hate it.
If you download Messenger on iPhone (as it forces you to), then you delete it from your phone, you’ll find when you go back into the original Facebook App that you can once again use chat in there like before. At least for now.
Trust us)
-Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity
-Allows the app to call phone numbers without your intervention. This may result in unexpected charges or calls. Malicious apps may cost you money by making calls without your confirmation.
-Allows the app to send SMS messages. This may result in unexpected charges. Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
-Allows the app to record audio with microphone. This permission allows the app to record audio at any time without your confirmation.
-Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
-Allows the app to read you phone’s call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. This permission allows apps to save your call log data, and malicious apps may share call log data without your knowledge.
-Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone, including the frequency with which you’ve called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals.
-Allows the app to read personal profile information stored on your device, such as your name and contact information. This means the app can identify you and may send your profile information to others.
-Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
-Allows the app to get a list of accounts known by the phone. This may include any accounts created by applications you have installed.
If I am not mistaken, those are descriptions that Google insist are used, rather than describing how the app actually works.
I’m not defending Facebook, and their privacy policies are suspect – but I reckon that the language used is a bit OTT. If you went through each of those permissions, I bet there’s a less sinister explanation.
Think about when you install a program like MS Word on your computer – you’re giving it permission to read your file system, overwrite files, send emails and so on.
>>Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity
Could this actually mean that the app will ask you if you want to turn off air-plane mode when you want to send a message?
>>Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
Maybe this just means you can send photos through the app without having to confirm the permissions every single time.
etc.
But what’s the reason behind needing call or text details? Or remote activation of camera and mic? Too much like big brother for me ha.
Googles default built in apps like hangouts need all of those permissions too, why arent you up in arms about that?
It needs access to your calls because the Facebook messenger app allows you to make and receive phone calls.
Now, if you have a call coming in but you haven’t let the app have access to your mic whenever it needs it – you wouldn’t be able to use that feature of the service – on iPhone you can opt out of this service, but android makes you accept all the permissions at once while iPhone asks for permission when you actually try to use the feature.
Same goes for camera – if you want to be able to send a photo or video or FaceTime – it needs access to your camera. If you want to send a picture from your saved photos, it needs access to your files. If you want to place a call it needs access to your contacts.
This is all much clearer when you’re using an iPhone because it doesn’t enable anything until you try to do what it’s needed for – then it’s all pretty understandable. But when you’re reading the android permissions it lacks context and sounds really dodgy.
The malicious apps thing – at least they mentioned it. Sadly there’s a lot of people out there still clicking on dodgy links in Facebook and spreading around malicious apps via Facebook, those people would have to smarten up quick to avoid the possible trouble caused by these malicious apps.
HI Katie. What is your guess, or feeling, at why Fb want to access every detail of their users lives?
For all the paranoid people out there. FACEBOOK really is spying on you. When you leave your phone on your licker at night, they (facebook) turn on the mic and camera a watch you sleep
Locker not licker. Oh dear lord stupid spell check.
Your licker? That your nickname for the other half?
Facebukk might not be watching you but Big brother is or are you watching it watching you watching it watching you watching it watching you?
I got rid. Not because I’m so I interesting that someone in silicon valley is watching my face as I write this. But because it was an irritating app. And you don’t need it at all to message on facebook.
If they wanna spy on me they can work away..if I’m bored then they’ll be twice as bored watching me being bored
Too true.
I got bored trading your comment
Still haven’t convinced me to download it. messenger worked perfect all along within the Facebook APP itself. Why bother moving it and trying to convince people to download another app? will they come out with another APP just so you can “exclusively ” like posts?..bit stupid if you ask me.
Hate the new app I use my laptop to read the messages now feck them and there app
You can still read your messages within the app, simple trick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0wMl-Uw8O0
It worked! Indeed! Thanx for the tip! HOW did you know?!?!
Just came across it one day by mistake
I like the external messaging app. It lets me use facebook for the only reason i have facebook: chat.
I can keep in touch with people without having to suffer all the selfies etc. :)
People are so naive, EVERYTHING you do on a phone is recorded by either Google, Facebook or Apple.
Radiohead had it right. All the paranoid android users out there haha
If you don’t like it. Don’t use it. Plain and simple
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