The Wall Street Journal is reporting that 10 popular Facebook applications have been transmitting users’ personal identifying information to dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies.
The newspaper said the breach also includes users who set all their information to be completely private. And in some cases, it said, the apps provided access to friends’ names.
A Facebook spokesman told the Journal on Sunday that the company would introduce new technology to contain the breach. It’s not clear how long the breach went on.
The paper says Facebook also has taken immediate action to disable all applications that violated their terms.
Most apps are made by independent software companies, not by Facebook.