Criticism of Facebook and Privacy Concerns Over the new Facebook Messenger App.

Any browser or social “App.” is a piece of software (cookie) on your computer that lets you visit webpages and use web applications.

 At the same time, that piece of software (cookie) gives those you wittingly, or unwittingly, allowed to place it on your computer complete access to your computer, including any removable “flash drives”, these same browsers and social apps. Wake up people Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft etch, etch; all do the same. In Direct Contravention to the Bill of Human Rights; They Invade Your Privacy To monitor your PERSONAL LIFE, and to STEAL Your Identity And Personal Information.

“Newer browsers save you time, keep you safer and let you do more online “or so the producers of these Apps dearly love to CLAIM. They will thank you for keeping your browser up to date, and express “sincere, hopes that you enjoy enhanced browsing.

In 2010, two personal information aggregation techniques called "connections" and "instant personalization were identified. They demonstrated that anyone could get access to any information saved to a Facebook Google or Yahoo profile, even information not intended to be public.  A "connection" is created when a user, through use of a browser or social app, such as Facebook, or Twitter, clicks on any product or service, either on the apps themselves, or on an external   but “linked” site.

 Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft then all treat such relationships as public information or as their information (claiming exclusive ownership) AND the user's identity may be displayed on any advertising page they later produce.

The app requests a number of insidious permissions, including the power to make phone calls and send text messages without the user knowing.

Here are some of the most alarming permissions they ALL outline in the app’s terms of service:

•        Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft may call phone numbers without your intervention. This may result in unexpected charges or calls (has happened to me-I refused to pay). Malicious apps may cost you money by making calls without your confirmation.

•        Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation or permission.

•        Allows the app to record audio with microphone. This permission allows the app to record audio at any time without your confirmation or permission.

•        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 or any permission.

•        Allows the app to read personal profile information stored anywhere on your device or on flash drives, such as your name and contact information. This means the app can identify you and may send ALL your PERSONAL profile information to others.

•        Other things listed in the permissions includes the ability to change the state of the network/computers connectivity, ability to read the phone’s call logs, read data about contacts and access a list of accounts stored in ANY(LAND Line or I Phone) phone’s memory.

And while Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft etch, etch;  may CLAIM to have legitimate reasons for accessing something like your phone’s camera – let’s say, if you want to send your friend a “selfie” – the statement “this permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation,” is alarming.

Facebook is forcing users to download the Messenger app to send and receive messages from their Friends.

Those who have not yet downloaded the Messenger app will start receiving notifications on their devices asking them to download the app any day now.

Eventually, the social networks will prevent users from sending messages through the Facebook mobile app – forcing the user to download Messenger if they chose to communicate that way.

As already explained, Facebook Messenger isn’t the only app with invasive terms. They all have.

Yet despite this, some studies say less than ten per cent of web users actually read the terms of service agreements in full when downloading an app or signing up for a website.

Instant Personalization was a pilot program which shared Facebook information with affiliated sites, such as sharing a user's list of "liked" bands with a music website, so that when the user visits the site, their preferred music plays automatically. For users that have not at least attempted opting out, Instant Personalization is instant data leakage. As soon as you visit the sites in the pilot program (Yelp, Pandora, and Microsoft Docs) the sites can access your name, your picture, your gender, your current location, your list of friends, all the Pages you have Liked—everything Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft NOT, NECESSIARILY, CANADIAN OR INTERNATIONAL LAW, classifies as public information. Even if you opt out of Instant Personalization (Profile) there's still data leakage, if your friends use Instant Personalization websites—their activities can give away information about you, unless you block those applications ALL individually.

On December 27, 2012, CBS News reported that Randi Zuckerberg, sister of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, criticised a friend for being "way uncool" in sharing a private Facebook photo of her on Twitter, only to be told that the image had appeared on a friend-of-a-friend's Facebook news feed.

Yes,Even Randi Zuckerberg can get it wrong. That's just one illustration of how confusing internet Privacy invasion/ Identity Theft can be. Of course, it is primarily MICROSOFT, Amazon, Facebook, Google, Twitter that deliberately try to make it so—they do not want consumers to become knowledgeable enough to press charges and or sue them—thereby getting monetary remuneration, if not the honesty, privacy and respect that all consumers-ALL PEOPLE deserve without having to demand it..© Al (Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.