Facebook Inc. disclosed it gave dozens of companies special access to user data, detailing for the first time a spate of deals that contrasted with the social network’s previous public statements that it restricted personal information to outsiders in 2015.
The deals with app developers, device and software makers — described in a 747-page document released to Congress late Friday — represent Facebook’s most granular explanation of exemptions that previously had been revealed by The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations.
The disclosure comes as lawmakers have demanded accountability at Facebook for allowing companies access to data on its billions of users without their knowledge, and questioned how far the universe of firms extends.
Facebook FB, -0.97% said in the disclosure that the special deals were required to give app developers time to become compliant with changes in its policies, and to enable device and software makers to create versions of the social network for their products. The company disclosed it was still sharing information of users’ friends, such as name, gender, birth date, current city or hometown, photos and page likes, with 61 app developers nearly six months after it said it stopped access to this data in 2015.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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