If you are using an iPhone, Facebook, without your knowledge, is more likely making use of your camera actively while you are scrolling your feed.
The issue came forward as a user Joshna Maddux took to Twitter reporting an atypical action on Facebook for iOS. Maddux shared a video in which his iPhone’s camera clearly seems to be working actively as he scrolls through his feed.
Maddux said that he found the issue on five iPhone devices running iOS 13.2.2 but couldn’t reproduce it on iOS 12. He commented, “I will note that iPhones running iOS 12 don’t show the camera (not to say that it’s not being used)”.
Here’s what he posted:
Found a @facebook #security & #privacy issue. When the app is open it actively uses the camera. I found a bug in the app that lets you see the camera open behind your feed. Note that I had the camera pointed at the carpet. pic.twitter.com/B8b9oE1nbl
— Joshua Maddux (@JoshuaMaddux) November 10, 2019
However, the issue only appears on granting the Facebook app with access to your camera. If not granted, it appears that the Facebook app tries to access it, but iOS blocks the attempt. iPhones that run iOS 13.2.2 show the camera actively working on the background but the problem doesn’t appear to affect iOS 13.1.3.
And the problem didn’t reproduce on Android.
Anyway, if you use an iPhone and have granted your camera access to the Facebook app, then be aware as Facebook might be recording you.
For now, you can revoke the camera access in order to deal with this privacy concern. Or you can also cover up your camera.
On notifying Facebook regarding the issue, Facebook calls it a bug. Well, who knows!
Facebook VP of Integrity Guy Rosen tweeted said, “We recently discovered our iOS app incorrectly launched in the landscape. In fixing that last week in v246 we inadvertently introduced a bug where the app partially navigates to the camera screen when a photo is tapped.” He again added saying, “We have no evidence of photos/videos uploaded due to this.”
Also, Rosen says that Facebook is submitting a fix to the App Store.
