Facebook is denying a report from a UK newspaper that it has at some point "admitted to reading text messages" via its mobile apps, and describes the accusation as "creative conspiracy theorizing."
Facebook issued the rebuttal following a Sunday Times story which stated that the social network is accessing user data — including text messages — via its Android app as part of a testing process for a future messaging service.
In a public statement, Facebook communications manager Iain Mackenzie called the newspaper's claim "another piece of disingenous reporting that does nothing for journalism and confuses users."
According to Mackenzie, Android users accessing the Facebook app receive a prompt requesting permission to access the read/write function for SMS upon install — because the company is currently "running a limited test of mobile features which integrate with SMS functionality" and the presence of such a functionality has to be declared in the app's permissions.
Mackenzie writes that Facebook worked with the Times to explain this situation and process and clarifies that if the relevant functionalities are ever used outside of testing — "with people who know exactly what [Facebook is] testing" — the company will ensure that it provides "appropriate guidance/educational materials." He adds that Facebook also never claimed to be launching a messenger product. "Any proper technology journalist will tell you that there are any number of things you can use SMS for, such as carrier billing," he writes.
We reached out to Facebook for further comments on the whole matter and while we haven't received a reply yet, a Facebook spokesperson didissue the following statement to The Verge, basically repeating what Mackenzie wrote:
The Sunday Times has done some creative conspiracy theorizing but the suggestion that we're secretly reading people's texts is ridiculous. Instead, the permission is clearly disclosed on the app page in the Android marketplace and is in anticipation of new features that enable users to integrate Facebook features with their texts. However, other than some very limited testing, we haven't launched anything so we're not using the permission. If we do, it will be obvious to users what's happening. We'll keep you posted on our progress.
The Verge's Josh Topolsky added to the statement by suggesting that "it's clear that writers at the [Times] don't have an in-depth understanding of how permissions work for apps. Much of the article seems aimed at drumming up fear, uncertainty, and doubt."
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