Facebook is facing fresh scrutiny over its data-sharing deals with smartphone manufacturers across the world.

What is the deal about?

• Facebook entered into “data sharing partnerships” with over 60 smartphone makers.
• They include brands like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and BlackBerry.
• Major Chinese players Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo, and TCL are also in the list.
• Facebook gave smartphone makers “deep access” to data on users and friends.
• The deals facilitated APIs (application programming interfaces), the ones from Facebook.
• These have allowed device makers to create the FB experience on their operating systems.
• The deals helped Facebook expand its reach.
• This was through features such as the ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons being integrated into the operating systems of many devices.
• The deals remained in place for over a decade until recently, when it started to wrap up some of them.

What are the concerns?

• There is lack of clarity on the sort of deals struck with different players.
• But the API would have given most manufacturers access to some data.
• They have given rise to concerns over how Facebook handles user data and privacy.
• There is fear that device makers got a free hand to collect user data.
• Users' friends’ relationship statuses, political leanings, locations, etc. became accessible.
• It has also been alleged that Facebook’s partnership deals with the device makers violated a consent decree.
• It is signed by the social networking company with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Under this, Facebook was required to obtain explicit consent from users before sharing their data with a third party.
• Consent is also required before changing or overriding users’ privacy settings.
• If found in violation of this decree, Facebook can face legal action.

What is the present tussle?

• The FTC had in 2011 noted that third party developers had access to nearly all of a user’s data.
• It had pulled up Facebook over the so called “Verified Apps” programme.
• The programme did not verify the security of participating apps, and for handing over users’ personal information to advertisers.
• Facebook has however refuted the accusation of violation of the deals.
• It says that all deals were tightly controlled.
• Also, that the partnerships were not the same as the ones it had with app developers.
• Partnerships prevented Facebook information from being used for any other purpose than to recreate Facebook-like experiences.
• The smartphone makers have also denied these allegations.
• Nevertheless, the concerns over these deals cannot be brushed aside.
• This is especially given the Facebook’s record with third party apps.