Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Culture

Facebook Bug Releases Millions of E-Mail Addresses, Phone Numbers of Users

Oops!

Reason Staff | 6.26.2013 9:24 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Facebook has had its share of privacy-related scandals, but a recent security flaw is getting quite a bit of attention because of the number of people affected. Up tosix million Facebook users' personal email addresses and phone numbers have been exposed, and while that's a small percentage of their total user base of one billion and counting, well, STILL. Six million, man. 

In a nutshell, the bug was related to Facebook's feature that grants access to users' contact lists or address books, and it exposed personal contact information to folks who weren't necessarily friends. Just what you want to hear, right? Your private phone number may have been sent directly to a stranger's inbox, courtesy of Facebook.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: NSA Responds to FOIA Request about Personal Information: It Would Help Our Enemies

Reason Staff
CultureScience & TechnologyFacebook
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (3)

Latest

Video Shows Federal Agents Arresting a Chicago Journalist. They Now Say She Threw Objects at Their Vehicle.

C.J. Ciaramella | 10.10.2025 5:20 PM

This Indiana City Doesn't Have To Pay an Innocent Mom $16,000 After Police Wrecked Her Home, Court Rules

Billy Binion | 10.10.2025 5:05 PM

Trump Won't Invoke the Insurrection Act—As Long As He Can Use the National Guard However He Wants

Jacob Sullum | 10.10.2025 4:55 PM

The Trump Administration Begins 'Substantial' Layoffs of Federal Workers

Christian Britschgi | 10.10.2025 4:15 PM

Trump's Case Against Letitia James Looks a Lot Like the Case She Brought Against Him

Joe Lancaster | 10.10.2025 3:35 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300