New permissions for Facebook?

[Adar]

I just got an update for Facebook and it requires new permissions. One of the others especially it wants is the ability to turn my wifi on or off. Why would I want to let an app do that? Has anyone updated it, and is there an option in the new app to turn that functionality off? I don't want apps turning stuff like that on whenever it feels like it.

For that matter, why DOES it need that permission? What possible use could it have?

 

[funkylogik]

Idk but maybe it wants to warn you and offer the chance to use wifi when you try to upload or download a large file to it to save data charges.
Im not saying its innocent or that i trust facebook one inch but usually permissions have a logical use :thumbup:

 

[jhawkkw]

It also wants permission to access your text messages. :banghead:

 

[funkylogik]

I wouldnt get all fired up about it until we find out the reasons for these permissions lol.
I think fb are making plenty money without taking the risk of doing something shady

 

[Adar]

I wouldnt get all fired up about it until we find out the reasons for these permissions lol.
I think fb are making plenty money without taking the risk of doing something shady

I don't get quite as worried when it is such a highly visible company, I just don't like granting excess permissions without knowing what it is for. Nothing in the release info gives any indication of why they want that permission. Consequently, I'm not updating until I know what it is for. Wouldn't be the first time an app asked for a permission it didn't need, just by mistake. Unfortunately Facebook also has a history of defaulting to turning something and forcing you to opt out. In this case, it is quite possible the saying "never attribute to malice what could be incompetence" is applicable.

 

[gtbarry]

There is a great discussion about facebook app permissions over on XDA
Latest Facebook app permissions!!? - xda-developers

Highlights of facebook app permissions:
Your accounts
find accounts on the device
create accounts and set passwords
add or remove accounts

Network communication
change network connectivity
download files without notification
view Wi-Fi connections
connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi

Your personal information
read calendar events plus confidential information
add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge

Phone calls
directly call phone numbers

Sync Settings
toggle sync on and off
read sync settings

 

[Adar]

I don't know that I would call the xda discussion great. Not much info is given for most of the permissions, though the explanation of the email permission is helpful. They don't really explain the need to turn my wifi on or off at will, which is really the only permission I still don't understand.

I'll keep an eye on that thread. I tend to stay away from xda other than finding specific info. A large number of their users come across as elitist, and sometimes downright rude. It is the main reason I spend most of my Android forum reading here. Phandroid is the friendliest Android forum around, and I almost always get good answers without being made to feel like an idiot.

 

[chanchan05]

The ability to toggle WiFi on or off is that so when you turn it on, it will try to connect to any known WiFi in the vicinity instead of using mobile data even if you have WiFi turned off. Before, it will use mobile data immediately if you forgot to turn on WiFi and connect before firing up the app.

 

[zuben el genub]

Sky Safari, Mobile Observatory, and Ibird Pro warn you to use wifi as they have large files on updates. No permissions, just a warning as soon as you hit update.

About FB, I don't know whether it affects mobile or not, but they want to run video ads. Pretty soon it's going to be all ads from they way FB is trying to monetize.

 

[Clementine_3]

About FB, I don't know whether it affects mobile or not, but they want to run video ads. Pretty soon it's going to be all ads from they way FB is trying to monetize.

It will affect mobile, I believe they will be in your feed but won't auto-run (I read that but don't recall where). If they do auto-run I swear that will be the last straw for me! I'm so close to my last straw with it anyway it's not going to take much to push me over. Just need the kid to make sure to send me the pics he puts on there, honestly, that's all I use it for.

 

[Digital Controller]

I wouldnt get all fired up about it until we find out the reasons for these permissions lol.
I think fb are making plenty money without taking the risk of doing something shady

Facebook has actually always struggled with ways to make money, the owner Zuckerberg, however, is in fact rich.

Just recently though, as in like Q3/Q4 of this year facebook has been making a turn around, it's stocks are going up and it's starting to make a lot of cash so we will see what happens.

However, some of the things it wants access to are starting to get absurd.

 

[LizMac]

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about those video ads that they intend to start soon. Gee, I hope my ad blocker works on those. Happy to pony up some $ to stop that from happening. IIRC it was that kind of BS that turned me away from Myspace (remember them?) and onto FB. I'm guessing that's why they might want the wi-fi permission. Just as Zuben pointed out above.

 

[zuben el genub]

Won't use FB on mobile. Pale Moon uses FX extensions, and one will turn off the <img> and Iframe tag. Flashblock will turn flash ads off. Both work on site by site permissions. I have icons on the bottom toolbar. Opera also does this, site by site.
Unlike JS, no one can tell if <img> is blocked while you will get a message about JS. I won't use Yahoo without them.

Your mobile version might not. Use the browser and change it to desktop. Adblocker should work there.