I just got a notification that I can update my Facebook app on my phone.  I went to the update and, for once, read what the update is all about.  Here is what my update says under the “phone calls” section, which is the section to be updated:
“NEW: Read phone state and identity


Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.”
Here’s my question: Why in the hell does Facebook need to track my phone calls?

Short answer: THEY DON’T.

There is absolutely no reason that Facebook would need to know who I am on the phone with.  No reason that Facebook needs to know the serial number for my phone.  No reason to detect if I am on the phone.  My phone number is an OPTIONAL thing to put in my profile.

I WILL NOT be allowing this update, or any future one I am sure.  If this makes it so that I can’t use Facebook on my phone, so be it.  I have a computer and don’t need to social network from my phone.

Here is how to find out if you installed this update(on an Android device):

Go to your PlayStore, hit your menu button, select “my apps”, select Facebook, you should be able to view the permissions you have granted to the app.

I do not know how to view from an iPhone since I don’t have one.  If you do, please post in the comments so iPhone users can check theirs.

Did you know about this?  Did you install the latest update?  Do you check your updates to see what permissions the app is asking for?

 

See the original post here.