Just speculating, but they might just need this information to combat bots actually.
Think about it, they already know who you are because you are logged in with your account.
They don’t need more info than that to run targeted ads.
Think about it, they already know who you are because you are logged in with your account.
They don’t need more info than that to run targeted ads.
Apps are calling out to FB regardless of you having a [FB] account.
If you have root, using Xprivacy will annoy you by revealing the amount of data-mining that's happening across all apps.
I've seen this happening all the time using NetGuard (firewall which requires no root, made by the same dev behind Xprivacy). Most of the default apps on Samsung phones are constantly trying to call Facebook servers also.
If you have Android, you should not be using your phone without NetGuard installed - https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
That would be actually quite useful for fighting bots, but I doubt that is the reason.
My guess would be just gathering telemetry to how how API is used, and what type of android devices are there (you know, like to know what you should support and test on).
In the video it is shown that the information sent to Facebook is far more intrusive than that.
wait. is that how it really works? does the FB SDK these other apps use really require that?
I mean: what if I don't have a FB account? what if I don't have the FB app installed?
1. Facebook's "need" to prevent bots ought to be subservient to their need to acquire consent. GDPR requires such consent.
2. It seems quite likely that the persons giving this talk aren't on Facebook.