What Data Does Facebook Collect?

You might not be surprised to hear that Facebook keeps tabs on your birthday and favorite memories. It’s how the growing tech giant is able to connect you to people you might know and suggest who you should tag in photos. However, there’s a lot of concern over how much data Facebook collects and what kinds of data it keeps.

Every website you visit, including your Facebook page, already collects data about you. But how much of our personal information are we sharing with large companies without even knowing it? How much data can these websites collect?

If you’re someone who’s looking into this for the first time, this is a great place to start. We’ve researched this topic and want to share this information with you so you can better manage your privacy online.

“It doesn’t matter whether you have a Facebook account,” Ms. Dingell said to Mr. Zuckerberg. “Through those tools, Facebook is able to collect information from all of us.”

Facebook meticulously scrutinizes the minutiae of its users’ online lives, and its tracking stretches far beyond the company’s well-known targeted advertisements. Details that people often readily volunteer — age, employer, relationship status, likes and location — are just the start.

Facebook tracks both its users and nonusers on other sites and apps. It collects biometric facial data without users’ explicit “opt-in” consent.

“Facebook can learn almost anything about you by using artificial intelligence to analyze your behavior,” said Peter Eckersley, the chief computer scientist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights nonprofit. “That knowledge turns out to be perfect both for advertising and propaganda. Will Facebook ever prevent itself from learning people’s political views, or other sensitive facts about them?”

What data can Facebook collect on its website?

The answer here is pretty scary: Facebook can collect whatever information you give to it, and it can collect some information you don’t share with it. We don’t say this lightly. Facebook has a terrible track record for keeping user information safe and secure.

If you have a Facebook account, you’ve already agreed to allow Facebook to record all of your on-site activity, including who you search, what groups you’re part of, your entire social network, and everything you share in Messenger.

Facebook uses this information to its benefit—specifically, it makes money through targeted ads based on your data and things you search for on the internet. Many Facebook users don’t understand how deeply connected everything is to Facebook advertisements.

Can Facebook collect data outside its website?

Unfortunately, yes, Facebook keeps collecting data even when you’ve left its website.

Information like your IP address, what advertisements you’ve clicked on, which browser you’re using, and how often you visit the site, is already data any website you visit can record about you. It’s very disturbing when you look at how much of your information Facebook knows about you just from visiting its site.

You’d never share this information in real life, so why share it online?

Additionally, many websites use Facebook marketing tools. This makes it easier to share things you find on the internet directly to your Facebook account. (For someone who loves sharing puppy photos or sending that chocolate mousse recipe, this does have a plus side.) However, all the tabs Facebook keeps on you won’t just magically go away. Eventually, Facebook has a lot more info that you think—including data from outside the Facebook website.

Can Facebook see my browser history?

Yes, Facebook can track your browsing or search history just like it tracks when you visit a certain website. Some users already believe Facebook is listening to them through the mic on their phone using AI technology. A scary thought, right?

In reality, Facebook can’t actually listen through your phone. But this conspiracy theory shows how many people realize that Facebook collects lots of data—and it’s smarter than we know. One thing here is certain: the privacy invasion is serious.