Facebook is suing a Ukrainian programmer for selling public data, including phone numbers, to millions of Facebook users. The social media company is demanding compensation.
It is alleged that Alexander Soloshenko used an automated program to collect data from more than 178 million Facebook accounts. This phenomenon is also known as “skimming”. Then he put the data for sale on an illegal website. The data will come mainly from Americans.
Facebook tracked the programmer because it also used the username and contact information of the illegal marketplace for accounts on job boards. The man is also said to have stolen and sold data from other companies, such as a large Ukrainian bank and parcel supplier.
The company has now filed a complaint against the Ukrainian to get him to stop selling public data for good. Facebook is also demanding compensation. The exact amount included is unknown.
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