Your not so private Facebook data

It seems that Facebook has made a small but significant change to the T&C's for users. From Friday, all 3rd party developers will have access to your address and phone number. Users will still need to give permission for a 3rd party developer to be allowed access, but if it is buried in the small print for an application, it may never be noticed.

More on the story here

The suggestion from some security firms is that you should delete your phone number and address from your account.

So, Facebooks users what say you and does it really matter?

Why on earth would you put your address on Facebook in the first place?

Ah. I'd been wondering why Facebook harassed me about how I needed to enter a phone number and verify that it works every time I logged in. Obviously, they were preparing for this, so that they'd have more phone numbers entered to give away.

Watch how fast I start blocking numbers. I like having the mobile access to Facebook, and I'll take my cold call lumps to keep it. I don't actually think my mailing address is listed anywhere on Facebook, and my phone is attached to my mom's mailing address, which is in another state.

Aren't you uncomfortable giving a company access to your phone that would do this with your private information, though?

Not particularly. I've worked telemarketing, so I know that certain companies get way more underhanded when they want to get your personal information ("Enter to win a new truck!" was the timeshare scam I got roped into working for in California). At least we know this is happening. Unless they count how many times I've posted about my Nook and Amazon starts phone stalking me. I wonder what bookseller death threats would be like....