Facebook Confirms Android Text and Call Histories are Recorded

Facebook Confirms Android Text and Call Histories are Recorded

Users are downloading their Facebook data to see just how much Facebook is recording.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 27, 2018

Facebook has had a bumpy 2018 to say the least. The social network is under fire after news broke that data firm Cambridge Analytics had been abusing the Facebook platform to download unauthorized data from over 50 million users. Now, users are downloading their own data from Facebook just to see what all the platform has recorded.

A developer, Dylan McKay, talked about his Facebook data in a thread of tweets last week that has since gone viral. McKay downloaded his own data from his account only to find that the platform had recorded data like the contacts in his phone (even contacts he no longer had), a log of incoming and outgoing phone calls and the metadata of his SMS texts, despite the fact he did not use the Facebook Messenger app to send SMS text messages.

Four days after the tweets went viral, Facebook confirmed that it had been recording the call history on Android phones, and attempted to tamp down some of the criticism by emphasizing that the effected users had opted in to the process.

"Call and text history logging is part of an opt-in feature for people using Messenger and Facebook Life on Android," the company wrote. "This helps you find and stay connected with the people you care about, and that provides you with a better experience across Facebook."

The company says that once enabled, the Messenger app begins to "continuously upload your contacts as well as your call and text history," but stressed that they do not record the text messages themselves or record the audio of phone calls. They also emphasized the fact that the data recorded was not sold.

Facebook did not say how many users had their history recorded, but there are 1.2 billion Facebook Messenger users as of 2017 and the Android operating system dominate 80 percent of the smartphone market. As of now, iPhone users do not seem to be affected.

As a result of all the data security incidents surrounding the social media platform, the Federal Trade Commission announced on Monday that they would be opening a non-public investigation into the privacy practices of the company.  

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.