From “simple” reading to the ability to upload the address book directly – some apps want to know exactly, but what happens afterwards?
As our cooperation partner checked4you reports, you should research very carefully if apps want to read the address book.
You probably know this: You install an app that requires access to your contacts permissions And what happens to the entries then? We explain this using the examples of Snapchat and Facebook.
Snapchat compares data from your address book with the profiles of all Snapchat users, and according to Snap 's privacy policy , information about you may be merged. What does that mean specifically? An example: You didn't give your cell phone number on Snapchat - there are a few reasons for this.
Other Snapchatters have the number saved in their address book and other phone numbers from you. Snapchat could then also know it and assign it to you. Fortunately, the app can also be used if you do not allow access to your contacts.
Same with Facebook . They go even further: The app offers you the option of uploading your address book directly. This can be deactivated in the app settings and with the current Facebook terms of use you should definitely do this.
We show how here:

Snapchat launch
If Snapchat asks if you want to access your contacts when you first launch it, tap Don't Allow. The images show the Android app in version 10.34.5.0.

Snapchat friends
If you click on the ghost in the top left...

Snapchat friends
...you can add new friends on Snapchat.

add friends
Of the various options, you should use “Add Friends” or “Snapcode”. This way you know for sure that the friends you are looking for are on Snapchat and have therefore consented to the service using their data.

Facebook: Open menu
To prevent the address book from being transferred to Facebook, tap on the three lines at the top right of the app. The images show the Android app in version 176.0.0.42.87.

Open Settings
Scroll down and tap “Settings and privacy”. Additional menu items will open – tap “Settings”.

Media and contacts
Scroll down and tap “Media and Contacts”.

Disable upload contacts
Tap the slider next to “Continuously upload contacts” to deactivate the function. Unfortunately, contacts that have already been uploaded are not deleted. You have to do this yourself. You can read how to do this in our article Deleting uploaded contacts on Facebook .

Info text
When you tap the text “Upload Contacts Continuously,” you’ll learn the following:
“Information about your contacts in your address book, such as: B. Names, phone numbers and nicknames are sent to Facebook so that you and other members can find friends more quickly and we can provide a better service.”
Imagine that there are people in your circle of friends who deliberately don't reveal their cell phone number to Facebook, for example. But the number gets into the network through you. Stupid thing, right?!
Instead of tapping “Let’s get started”, you should go back using the arrow in the top left.
WhatsApp and Facebook
The matter is made worse by the fact that WhatsApp (which is owned by Facebook) changed its terms and conditions in August 2016 to the effect that information from the app should also be passed on to Facebook. If this also includes the contacts - which is to be assumed - then their numbers will get back to Facebook (and, for example, to Instagram, which also belongs to Facebook...).
In 2016, WhatsApp itself wrote in its FAQ on the subject that you could object to the use of the data for advertising purposes, only to immediately add: “The Facebook group of companies will still receive this information…”.
And these are just examples - our advice obviously applies to any app that requests access to your contacts: Think carefully about which app is allowed access and what the operators want to do with the data!
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1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

