Zoom for iOS sends your data to Facebook even if you don't have Facebook...
What you need to know
- A report claims that Zoom's iOS app is sending analytics data to Facebook.
- It happens even if you don't have a Facebook account.
- A privacy activist described the revelation as "shocking".
Popular iOS app Zoom, which has been thrust into prominence due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions, sends data to Facebook even if users don't have a Facebook account.
According to Vice:
A privacy activist reportedly stated:
As mentioned, Zoom has become enourmously popular as a video conferencing solution for both work and more social settings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tool has proven apt at keeping people connected as they are forced to work from home and are unable to have social contact. As the report notes, this sort of data transfer is "uncommon, especially for Facebook". However, as the report rightly suggests, many users who do not use Facebook, or perhaps have chosen not to use Facebook over privacy concerns will likely be alarmed to hear that their data is being shared with the social media giant anyway.
The report claims that Zoom notifies Facebook when a user opens the app, detailing their device, time zone, city, phone carrier and a unique advertised identifier that can be used to target you with ads. According to the report:
Zoom did not respond to a request for comment, you can read the full report here.
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Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9