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Facebook Sues Two Chrome Extension Makers For Scraping User Data
from the moving-on dept.
Facebook has filed a lawsuit against two companies for creating and distributing malicious browser extensions that scraped user data without authorization from the Facebook and Instagram websites. From a report:
Named in the lawsuit are BrandTotal, an Israeli-based company with a Delaware subsidiary, and Unimania, incorporated in Delaware. The two companies are behind UpVoice and Ads Feed, two Chrome extensions available on the official Chrome Web Store since September and November 2019, where they racked up more than 5,000 and 10,000 installs, respectively. "BrandTotal enticed users to install the UpVoice extension from the Google Chrome Store by offering payments in exchange for installs, in the form of online gift cards, and claiming that the users who installed the extension became 'panelists . . . [who] impact the marketing decisions and brand strategies of multi-billion dollars (sic) corporations'," Facebook said in court documents filed today.
Posted by msmash 3 hours ago
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13 Comments
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Um... piss off? (+1)
rsilvergun 3 hours ago
FB doesn't have any standing here. The extension runs in the users browser. There might be some violation of consumer protection law if they don't disclose the data they're scraping and how they're using it, but that's between the end user & the extension authors. 

Just like I can use my Galoob Game Genie on my NES I can run any extension I bloody damn well please on my PC. If Facebook doesn't like it they can stop using web browsers and write locked down proprietary software. 

That said these are pretty dodgy companies. FB is likely going after them to set a precedent.
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Re: Um... piss off? (+2)
JaredOfEuropa 3 hours ago
Who knows, maybe they are infringing on some of FB's patents. Or FB figure they already own your data, and they brook no competition.
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Re: Um... piss off? (+1)
martynhare 3 hours ago
Depends if it’s passively scraping or if the code makes calls to the website from within the browser in a manner which violates ToS. Also, which users data is it taking? The one who installed the software or the data of other users, who haven’t consented?
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Re: Um... piss off? (+1)
Sleeping Kirby 2 hours ago
Just skimmed the full article. The reason why facebook is suing is because the extension scraps user info from people's facebook accounts (and amazon and instagram and others). If the plugin was installed on false pretenses and it extracts privileged data when one normally wouldn't have, they might have a case. It would be akin to a phishing attack where someone runs an malware email attachment that steals data. The company that has had their data stolen by said malware might want to sue the creators and/or the senders of said malware, but they can't say that the employee ran the malware from their own PC and if the company doesn't like it, tough cookies. Like, I hate facebook just as much, if not more, than your average /.er. But in this case, it might be legit.
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Re: Um... piss off? (+1)
WaffleMonster an hour ago
Just skimmed the full article. The reason why facebook is suing is because the extension scraps user info from people's facebook accounts (and amazon and instagram and others).
Facebook has been scraping browsing history from plurality of the worlds Internet users *WITHOUT PERMISSION* for years... now that someone else wants to tag on and score a piece of their haul they get all sue happy. Personally I find the hypocrisy hilarious.
What Facebook is doing is actually far worse because there is nothing to install, nothing to agree to. No indication Internet users are being constantly spied upon by Facebook.
At least when you DECIDE to use Facebook or upvoice malware you are making a choice to do that. At least privacy policies (LOL) are available to gain a deep appreciation for the depths of depravity that will be foised upon you should you foolishly elect to proceed.
If the plugin was installed on false pretenses and it extracts privileged data when one normally wouldn't have, they might have a case.
Nothing is being hidden any more than your typical malware funded social media platform. They even have a sleazy privacy policy just like Facebook.
https://privacy.joinupvoice.co...
Like, I hate facebook just as much, if not more, than your average /.er. But in this case, it might be legit.
The only legit aspect of this is rank hypocrisy.
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Meh! (+3)
jenningsthecat 3 hours ago
I have some sympathy with Facebook's position, and the purveyors of the extensions in question are undeniably scum. But this seems rather like the complaint of a 'high-class' thief whose stolen goods were re-stolen by a lower-level thief. One bad guy pointing the finger at another bad guy does nothing to help the users, whose data was misappropriated long before BrandTotal and Unimania came on the scene.
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Re: Meh! (+2)
fustakrakich 2 hours ago
"Assassins accusing the assassins"
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Pot! (+3, Funny)
nospam007 3 hours ago
Meet Kettle!
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You mad bruh? (+3, Insightful)
Bryan Gritton 2 hours ago
Facebook is just pissed they didn't think of it first.
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Get Lost (+1)
RotateLeftByte 2 hours ago
Emperor Zuck says...
Only FacaeBook is allowed to slurp any data from our suckers.
Just say no to Fartbook.
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User data belongs to the user (+1)
Gabest 2 hours ago
If the extension collected user data, then Facebook cannot really claim any damages, only the users whose data got harvested.
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Savor the Irony (+1)
ytene 2 hours ago
The absolute worst organization in the world when it comes to stealing and monetizing user data, trying to sue other companies for ... stealing and monetizing user data. 

Et tu, brute? 

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Hello, Pot (+1)
DarkRookie2 an hour ago
My name is Kettle. I believe we have met before.
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