General

US Probing Facebook Data Deals With Tech Firms: Report

Author : NewsGram Desk

Facebook is facing criminal investigation in the US for the data deals it had entered into with smartphone makers and other technology giants, The New York Times reported.

A grand jury in New York has subpoenaed records from at least two smartphone makers that had entered into partnerships with the social media giant, said the report on Wednesday citing unnamed sources.

These two companies were among more than 150, including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Sony, that had cut sharing deals with Facebook, gaining broad access to the personal information of millions of its users.

Facebook earlier reportedly admitted that it had shared users' data with embattled Chinese company Huawei along with three other China-based smartphone makers Lenovo, OPPO and TCL.

Facebook, social media. Pixabay

These agreements allowed the companies to see users' friends, contact information and other data, sometimes without consent.

Facebook has phased out most of the partnerships over the past two years, The New York Times report said.

"We are cooperating with investigators and take those probes seriously," a Facebook spokesman was quoted as saying in a statement.

"We've provided public testimony, answered questions and pledged that we will continue to do so." (IANS)

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube and WhatsApp

Download our app on Play Store

Yemen Conflict Intensifies, Reverberating Beyond The Region

Trump Signs Russia-Iran Sanctions Bill, Putting New Pressure Tools At His Disposal

When Pakistan’s Hindu Politician Urged Lawmakers To Stop Anti-Hindu Hate, But Continue With Anti-India Rhetoric

“I Am Not Bigger Than the PM”: Former CNBC-TV18 Editor Timsy Jaipuria Shares How Her Life Changed After PM Modi Personally 'Fact-Checked' Her Report on Foreign Travel Surcharge

Former Japan PM Yoshihiko Noda Seen Handing Out Flyers at Train Station, Netizens Praise His Humility As Video Goes Viral