Twitter admits to user data leak, apologises

by IANS |

San Francisco, Aug 7 (IANS) Owing the breach to recently identified privacy flaws and regretting the outcome, micro-blogging site Twitter has admitted to have inadvertently shared user data with advertising and third party partners.

According to a blog-post published by Twitter on Tuesday, the user information that may have been shared without people's permission include country code, details of users' engagement with the ad and information about the ad. 

Mainly, information of users who interacted with certain ads concerning mobile applications or ads based on inferences Twitter made about the device that users were using in May and September 2018, has been shared without user permission. 

"The data involved stayed within Twitter and did not contain things like passwords, email accounts, etc," the post said. 

The company has said that the issue was fixed on August 5 -- almost a year after the leak happened. 

"We know you will want to know if you were personally affected, and how many people in total were involved. We are still conducting our investigation to determine who may have been impacted," the post added. 

The micro-blogging site has advised users to check their settings for now. 

"You trust us to follow your choices and we failed here. We're sorry this happened, and are taking steps to make sure we don't make a mistake like this again," the post noted. 

As of now, further details like data of how many users have been leaked and what could be the repercussion remain undisclosed from Twitter's end.

Especially after the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal broke out that revealed that Facebook compromised personal data of thousands of its users, tech companies including Google and Amazon have come under intense scrutiny in recent years.


 

Latest News
IPL 2024: Looking to see more attacking fast bowling from Siraj and Yash, says RCB head coach Flower Sat, May 04, 2024, 04:26 PM
Inspiring voices of India's women panchayat leaders resonate at UN meet Sat, May 04, 2024, 04:24 PM
CM, Dy CM obsessed with 'pen drive', forgotten about guarantees: KarnatakaBJP chief Sat, May 04, 2024, 04:21 PM
President Murmu reaches Shimla for five-day visit Sat, May 04, 2024, 04:13 PM
Cracks in the armour: Cong faces serious challenge from NC rebel candidate in Ladakh constituency Sat, May 04, 2024, 04:06 PM
Chinese embassy in Canada refutes foreign interference accusations Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:47 PM
Karnataka CM chairs SIT meeting, orders immediate arrest of Prajwal Revanna Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:42 PM
Study calls for making cardiorespiratory fitness a part of annual check-up Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:35 PM
'Refusing an ICC event can backfire', cautions Rashid Latif amid uncertainty over India's participation in Champions Trophy Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:24 PM
Meta gets 27K reports via Indian grievance mechanism in March, fake FB, Insta profiles key concern Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:23 PM
Government lifts ban on onion exports with price rider Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:22 PM
Multiple fires erupt in Ukraine's Kharkiv after overnight Russian attacks Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:19 PM
UNGA president invokes Mahatma Gandhi to call for protecting journalists Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:18 PM
Rahul's Raebareli move will be 'suicidal', says ex-Congman Pramod Krishnam Sat, May 04, 2024, 03:17 PM
'Shahenshah lives in castle': Priyanka Gandhi's retort on Rahul being dubbed 'Shehzada' Sat, May 04, 2024, 02:55 PM