Facebook has revealed that it tracks users who are not logged in to the network and even those who have not signed up to the social media platform.
According to Newsweek, the social media giant confirmed on Monday that it is tracking internet users through applications and websites that use its services - such as those with embedded "like" and "share" buttons, login pages, analytics or advertising.
These embedded applications reportedly send information to Facebook without distinguishing if the user has an account on the platform. The information being gathered by the websites using Facebook features include the visitor's IP address, their operating system and cookies, although Newsweek reported that the information does not enable an individual to be personally identified.
"When you visit a site or app that uses our services, we receive information even if you're logged out or don't have a Facebook account," David Baser, Facebook's product management director, stated in a blog post.
"This is because other apps and sites don't know who is using Facebook. There are three main ways in which Facebook uses the information we get from other websites and apps: Providing our services to these sites or apps; improving safety and security on Facebook; and enhancing our own products and services. We don't sell people's data. Period," he continued.
According to The Indian Express, Baser manages a team that is focused on privacy and data use. His team is also responsible for complying with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Baser said that all the websites that uses Facebook's tools are required to obtain user permission before they can share personal user information. He said Facebook was not the only platform collecting user data from other websites as he said other platforms such as Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest were similarly tracking internet users.
"These companies—and many others—also offer advertising services. In fact, most websites and apps send the same information to multiple companies each time you visit them," he wrote.
Facebook has repeatedly maintained that it does not sell user data and that it only provides insights for advertisers based on user metrics.
Baser's blog post came after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in the U.S. Congress that Facebook tracks users to serve better advertisements. However, the Facebook founder failed to give a detailed response when asked about the exact kind of data being collected by the social media giant.
