When Facebook acquired the hugely popular messaging app WhatsApp in 2014, many users were concerned what the merger could mean for the privacy of their data. WhatsApp declared strongly at the time that it would not collect or store user information, but that changed this week when the company announced that it will begin sharing…

Facebook recently introduced ad education portal to help users understand how the site targets its ads. However, the site’s new transparency also revealed the amount of your information that Facebook provides to advertisers — 98 personal data points in all. As most savvy users already know, Facebook tracks your on-site activity, your device and location…

Researchers at the University of North Carolina have discovered a way that hackers could use photos from your Facebook account to bypass facial recognition technology. The team of researchers collected photos online from 20 volunteer subjects, then created 3D models of the volunteers’ faces based off the photos. They then added facial animations and manipulated…

Facebook announced a policy change this week that will allow Messenger chat bots to send promotional and subscription-based messages to users. However, the new policy also places limits on how and when businesses may contact you. In an example illustrated by VentureBeat, a travel bot on Facebook Messenger could not previously upsell users on hotels…

27-year-old Anthony Novak was arrested in March after he created a fake Facebook page spoofing the local police department in Parma, Ohio. According to Novak, the police raided his apartment while his roommate was home and took all of his electronics, and Novak himself spent three days in jail. However, late last week, Novak was…

Facebook announced in a blog post this week that it will prevent ad blockers from working on the site’s desktop version, and it will show ads to users who are running ad blocker software anyway. In return, the company is giving users more control over what kinds of ads they see, including the choice to…

In July, the creators of several so-called “Weird Facebook” meme pages claimed that the site was shutting down their pages and blocking content without warning. Now, the admins and followers of these creative, slightly off-kilter pages are preparing to take the fight to Facebook itself. The loose collection of Facebook pages that make up the…

Two weeks ago, Facebook temporarily deactivated the account of a black woman named Korryn Gaines who was involved in a police standoff. She was posting videos of the encounter to her Facebook profile while it was happening, and both the site and police said they removed her content to help the negotiation process. However, the…

According to a report in the Houston Press this week, someone has created over 60 Facebook pages for fake Houston-area restaurants — and it’s unclear what they’re doing with them. The addresses of real restaurants are being used for the fake pages, as are images from restaurants all over the country. Most of the fake…

Police in Iowa warned parents this week of a scam that involves strangers soliciting nude photos from teenage girls on Facebook. Officials say they are investigating five cases in Johnston, Iowa, Ankeny, and several other communities. Officials say the victims in each instance accept a Facebook friend request from a stranger claiming to be a…