Just FYI, Twitter also sold data to Cambridge Analytica
Facebook isn't the only social network you need to worry about when it comes to protecting your personal data.
Twitter confirmed on Saturday to The Telegraphthat it sold data access to the academic who also obtained millions of Facebook users' information without their direct consent, then sold that data to political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.
SEE ALSO:How to find out if Cambridge Analytica stole your Facebook dataThe researcher, Aleksandr Kogan, has been derided in recent weeks for creating a personality quiz on Facebook that was used to harvest data from millions of users and their friends.
Now, Twitter has revealed that the academic's commercial enterprise, Global Science Research (GSR), also purchased one-time API access to a random sample of public tweets between December 2014 and April 2015. Although the revelation does not have nearly the same scope as the Cambridge Analytica's recent Facebook scandal, it does show how prevalent the practice of data-sharing can be.
A Twitter spokesperson told Mashable on Monday that the data collected by GSR was already public and said “based on the recent reports, we conducted our own internal review and did not find any access to private data about people who use Twitter.”
It's also important to mention that it's a fairly common practice for Twitter to sell API access to large organizations for surveying opinions around different news events, topics, and ideas.
In a strange twist, a Cambridge Analytica spokesperson told The Telegraphthat the company has used Twitter for political advertising in the past, but that it had never “undertaken a project with GSR focusing on Twitter data and Cambridge Analytica has never received Twitter data from GSR." In essence, the company would like to distance itself from this new report.
So, is it time to #DeleteTwitter?
Following Facebook's kerfuffle with Cambridge Analytica, it's easy to understand why you might be on-edge about your online privacy. That said, there's reason to believe that the sale of your Twitter data isn't a reason to panic. Twitter only grants customers access to data that users have already made public -- so things like tweets and statements, not addresses or phone numbers.
"Unlike many other services, Twitter is public by its nature," a Twitter spokesperson told Mashable."People come to Twitter to speak publicly, and public Tweets are viewable and searchable by anyone."
So all companies and developers can buy are samples of public tweets from specific accounts or certain keywords. Twitter doesn't sell DMs, and prohibits developers from inferring race, political affiliation, or other personal information from users' tweets. Email addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses aren't public on Twitter (unless you chose to tweet them out in the relevant time frame), and Twitter uses have to opt into geo-location.
Still, Twitter has ended Cambridge Analytica's advertising.
"Twitter has made the policy decision to off-board advertising from all accounts owned and operated by Cambridge Analytica," a company spokesperson told Mashable. "This decision is based on our determination that Cambridge Analytica operates using a business model that inherently conflicts with acceptable Twitter Ads business practices."
So we're safe for now, but this should still serve as a reminder to us all: Be careful what you put online. Even on highly anonymous platforms like Twitter, you never know where your data could end up.
Featured Video For You
-
'Terminator Zero' creators find fresh life in sciSouth Korea warns North Korea will face end of regime if it uses nuclear weapons交警竹春熹:工作中偶遇妻女短暂相聚7分钟Facebook promised Trump it wouldn't factFootage of Kim Yo做好隧道贯通工作 助力成雅快速通道建设Facebook promised Trump it wouldn't factThe 13 best tweets of the week, including Golden Corral, depression, and 'Borat 2'Best tablet deals as of August 27Apple to launch new Apple Watches and iPad Air soon, report says
- ·When Are Next
- ·South Korea warns North Korea will face end of regime if it uses nuclear weapons
- ·企业总经理:国庆期间不停产 红红火火赶订单
- ·Walmart comes for Amazon, launching membership service with free delivery
- ·The Wonderful World of Christmas Trees
- ·全面适应治水主要矛盾变化 深入推进水生态系统保护修复
- ·热!“跑圈大v”纷纷打卡这场清马
- ·Join Costco and score a $40 Costco Shop Card to prep yourself for the fall lineup
- ·Yoon approves labor minister's appointment
- ·North Korean delegation to attend flagship St. Petersburg economic forum: TASS
- ·North Korea unlikely to interfere in South Korea’s general elections: experts
- ·Nadal aims to be French Open’s oldest champion
- ·Trump trials: Jack Smith is reportedly reconsidering his strategy.
- ·Amazon makes half
- ·Olivia Colman's Oscar speech reimagined as the months of 2020 is perfection
- ·North Korea condemns UN members' sanctions enforcement as 'provocations'
- ·Understanding Relational vs. Non
- ·Hot U.S. summer temperatures match record for extreme 1930s' Dust Bowl
- ·The 14 best tweets of the week, including cake... lots of cake
- ·Facebook promised Trump it wouldn't fact
- ·PS5 Pro: It looks like a sketch of the design just leaked
- ·Facebook's defense during whistleblower hearing falls apart in real time
- ·Australia election upset: How did the conservatives win?
- ·传统景区受热捧 红色旅游成亮点
- ·高温难耐,工会驿站化身“清凉小屋”
- ·Satellite imagery shows ‘visible’ signs of N.Korea reactivating nuclear test site
- ·优化广东优质农产品产销资源对接!“农友圈”又有新动作
- ·Mbappe salvages draw for France
- ·Judge rejects Trump attempt to block Congress from subpoenaing financial records.
- ·The UK zine tackling sex and relationship issues for people of colour
- ·水产品占“四席”!广州南沙十个农产品上榜“国字号”
- ·部门“联包帮” 旧院“换新颜”
- ·交警竹春熹:工作中偶遇妻女短暂相聚7分钟
- ·The 14 best tweets of the week, including cake... lots of cake
- ·高温难耐,工会驿站化身“清凉小屋”
- ·严厉打击非法经营 维护正常市场秩序