Zynga Unknowingly Leaks Millions of Facebook IDs

A Wall Street Journal report has shown that the ten most popular Facebook games have been secretly transmitting user information to outside advertising and data collection agencies. Six of those games, including FarmVille, Cafe World, and Mafia Wars, are Zynga properties. The Journal also states that “three of the top ten apps, including FarmVille, also have been transmitting personal information about a user’s friends” to various companies.

Specifically these users’ Facebook ID numbers have been transmitted. According to the Journal “anyone can use an ID number to look up a person’s name, using a standard Web browser, even if that person has set all of his or her Facebook information to be private.”

All of this has been going on under Zynga’s nose. A spokeswoman for the company says it “has a strict policy of not passing personally identifiable information to any third parties.” Regardless, over 25 different companies, including RapLeaf and Google’s own Invite Media, have gotten a hold of millions of users’ information.

This information has allegedly been collated into profiles on these users, tracking their internet activities. RapLeaf has apparently been selling this info as well though it and 12 other companies have denied any information stealing.

Facebook has taken down many of the apps outlined in the report (several by LOLapps Media) but have not taken down any Zynga apps yet.

via: Develop