Following fears concerning privacy implications, Facebook will stop using members’ phone numbers in its friends recommendation system in 2020.
According to the social media giant, users will have an option to have a code sent to their mobile phones when logging in to prevent hackers from gaining access.
Facebook also confirmed that it released the numbers into targeted advertising and friend recommendation systems.
The company says it will have completed the changes – part of a settlement with US regulators – during 2020.
Most of the social networks now offer two-factor authentication – also known as two-step authentication – to enhance account security. This makes it very difficult for hackers to access online accounts because they will have to get both the password and a one-off code sent to the account holder’s mobile phone.
Last year, it was revealed that Facebook was deploying the phone numbers to target advertising – and to power its People You May Know feature, which recommends potential Facebook friends.
Privacy advocates and security researchers criticised the social network, saying the practice was deceptive and could erode trust in two-factor authentication.
The People You May Know feature is designed to pick out people you might want to add as friends on the platform. It uses a variety of signals to work out whether you have met somebody, including:
- having lots of mutual friends on Facebook
- being tagged in a photo together
- being in the same “network”, such as a workplace or school
However, Facebook and Messenger can also collect contact information from your smartphone’s address book.
That means Facebook can identify people who have saved your number in their address book and can encourage you to add them as a friend.
It used the phone numbers people provided for two-factor authentication to make these connections.
The company has however pledged to make privacy changes as part of a $5bn (£3.8bn) settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
It said it had stopped using members’ security phone numbers for advertising in June 2019.
For the next few days, Facebook will stop using the numbers for friend suggestions in Cambodia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Libya and Pakistan. It said the change will take total effect globally in 2020.
Also, anybody who has already set up two-factor authentication will have to disable it and delete their phone number from the system, and then switch it back on.
