Facebook admits using user’s phone number for ad targeting

Facebook has recently admitted that the phone numbers its users provide for security purposes are being used to target them with ads, claimed media report. Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying to TechCrunch, “We use the information people provide to offer a better, more personalised experience on Facebook, including ads.”

The social media platform Facebook uses the phone numbers provided by its user for two factor authentication. It is a security technique that provide second layer of authentication in order to keep its user’s account safe.

In a report, Facebook confirmed to use phone number for targeting ads, after Gizmodo reported research work being carried out by academics at two US universities who found that the social network uses pieces of personal information that individuals did or did not explicitly provide.

“We are clear about how we use the information we collect, including the contact information that people upload or add to their own accounts. You can manage and delete the contact information you’ve uploaded at any time,” the Facebook spokesperson said.

The Gizmodo report stated,  “Besides using the contact information users willingly provide to Facebook, it is also using contact information they handed over for security purposes and contact information they did not hand over at all, but that was collected from other people’s contact books.”

The study also suggest that Facebook uses ‘shadow contact information’ to make money via advertising.

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