[Dixielandjazz] Facebook's New Mandatory Messenger App

[Don Kirkman]

On Fri, 8 Aug 2014 15:47:39 -0500, Jim Allen wrote:

Thank you for this warning, Jim.  Probably like a lot of other
Facebook users I'm tired of the stream of dire warnings from Facebook
about what will happen if a user fails or refuses to go along with the
switch to the new version of the app.  I came to Facebook to
participate in a family genealogy group and to be in touch with a
small number of family and friends.  Some of Facebook's pushy
"suggestions" are already into commercials and redirections to items
of no use nor interest to me.  I just hope I don't have to leave
Facebook because I can't live in peace with my chosen few contacts.

>First, this is *VERY* important to read and understand. I’m doing my best
>to look out for all the Facebook Users who aren’t as tech savvy as their
>kids or friends. I’m trying to help explain what’s happening because if I
>don’t…nobody else will!
>
>If you’re anything like your neighbor…you probably use Facebook on your
>phone *WAY* more than you use it on a computer. You’ve been sending
>messages from the Facebook app and it probably always asks you if you want
>to install the Facebook Messenger App.
>
>It’s always been* OPTIONAL* but coming soon to your Facebook experience….it
>won’t be an option…it will be mandatory if you care to send messages from
>your phone.
>
>No big deal one might think…but the part that the average Facebook User
>doesn’t realize is the permissions you must give to Facebook in order to
>use the Facebook Messenger App. Here is a short list of the most disturbing
>permissions it requires and a quick explanation of what it means to you and
>your privacy.
>
>   - *Change the state of network connectivity* – This means that Facebook
>   can change or alter your connection to the Internet or cell service. You’re
>   basically giving Facebook the ability to turn features on your phone on and
>   off for it’s own reasons without telling you.
>   - *Call phone numbers and send SMS messages* – This means that if
>   Facebook wants to…it can send text messages to your contacts on your
>   behalf. Do you see the trouble in this? Who is Facebook to be able to
>   access and send messages on your phone? You’re basically giving a stranger
>   your phone and telling them to do what they want when they want!
>   - *Record audio, and take pictures and videos, at any time* – Read that
>   line again….RECORD audio…TAKE pictures….AT ANY TIME!! That means that the
>   folks at Facebook can see through your lens on your phone whenever they
>   want..they can listen to what you’re saying via your microphone if they
>   choose to!!
>   - *Read your phone’s call log, including info about incoming and
>   outgoing calls* – Who have you been calling? How long did you talk to
>   them? Now Facebook will know all of this because you’ve downloaded the new
>   Facebook messenger app.
>   - *Read your contact data, including who you call and email and how
>   often* – Another clear violation of your privacy. Now Facebook will be
>   able to read e-mails you’ve sent  and take information from them to use for
>   their own gain. Whether it’s for “personalized advertisements” or if it’s
>   for “research purposes” ….whatever the reason..they’re accessing your
>   private encounters.
>   - *Read personal profile information stored on your device* – This means
>   that if you have addresses, personal info, pictures or anything else that’s
>   near and dear to your personal life…they can read it.
>   - *Get a list of accounts known by the phone, or other apps you use* –
>   Facebook will now have a tally of all the apps you use, how often you use
>   them and what information you keep or exchange on those apps.
>
>
>
>Hopefully, you take this as serious as I do…after reading more about it and
>studying the permissions I have now deleted the app from my phone and don’t
>intend to use it ever again. I still have my Facebook app but I just won’t
>use the messaging feature unless I’m at a computer. Even then, I might not
>use messaging anymore.
>
>With these kinds of privacy invasions I think Facebook is pushing the
>limits to what people will let them get away with. I remember when the
>Internet first began it’s march toward socializing dominance when AOL would
>send us CD’s for free trials every week. On AOL, we made screen names that
>somewhat hid our identities and protected us against the unseen dangers
>online. Now, it seems that we’ve forgotten about that desire to protect our
>identity and we just lay down and let them invade our privacy.
>
>There may be no turning back at this point because many people won’t read
>this or investigate the permissions of Facebook’s new mandatory app but at
>least I can say I tried to help us put up a fight. Pass this along to your
>friends and at least try to let them know what they’re getting into.
>
>http://thebull.cbslocal.com/2014/08/07/facebook-crosses-the-line-with-new-facebook-messenger-app/
>
>Troubling!
>
>Best
>Jim Allen
>
>TUBA!
>
>New Braunfels, TX
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-- 
Don Kirkman
donsno2 at charter.net