Facebook has given dozens of mobile phone companies access to data from users of the social network, writes The New York Times. It involves at least sixty companies, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Samsung.

 

This happened as a result of deals that allowed Facebook to expand before it had apps for all popular phone platforms.

The companies not only got access to the data of users of their devices but also the data of their friends. With that, Facebook may have violated American law. Since April, the social network is working to phase out the partnerships.

Facebook denies that the data was free to harvest for the phone makers. They were allowed to use the access they received only to give their customers access to Facebook. The social network also approved all apps itself and stated that it was not aware of misuse of that regulation.