Facebook Closed groups exposed to third parties with plugin

Facebook closed a loophole that allowed others to view and collect personal information about members of groups placed in the "closed" privacy framework. An extension of Google's Chrome browser, called Grouply.io, was specifically designed to allow third parties to collect names, email addresses, employers and other personal data from Facebook groups, according to a report by CNBC

. To fill this gap, complaints have been made by a group of women carrying the BRCA gene, a genetic mutation associated with a high risk of breast cancer. The BRCA Sisterhood group, which did not want names of members to be known, had a Facebook group "closed". Technically, "secret" is the most restrictive setting of Facebook, but choosing to make a "secret" group completely hides it from public lists. The BRCA Sisterhood was open to new members and chose the "closed" setting for this reason.

A security researcher who helped moderators of the BRCA Sisterhood to determine if the plugin could reap their personal information also found that Facebook groups for other sensitive issues, such as drug recovery and HIV / AIDS. AIDS, were easily searchable using the Chrome plugin.

This type of personal data can be used in marketing and advertising. But that comes with another more tense consideration for Facebook: compliance with the confidentiality of health care. While a social media site like Facebook is not obliged to comply with the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the United States, it may attract attention. European regulators, where Facebook is facing a new battle. Regulation (GDPR) rules.

Facebook has issued a termination letter to Grouply.io developers, who dropped the Chrome plugin earlier this year. Facebook also said that it has closed the loophole of third parties in general.

Despite the privacy concerns and controversies that plague the social media giant, Facebook's stock has recently closed to a record high. Mark Zuckerberg has also recently become the third richest person in the world, surpassing Warren Buffet.