Let's get into the semantics of "comingle" versus "share," shall we? When it comes to respecting user privacy, Facebook doesn't exactly have a glowing reputation. In fact, every time Facebook acquires a new app or company, its fan base collectively screams, Don't touch my data!
Like WhatsApp and Oculus VR before them, the Moves leadership promised its users that it would not comingle their private data with Facebook. Just 11 days later, Moves did an about face.
"We may share information, including personally identifying information, with our Affiliates (companies that are part of our corporate groups of companies, including but not limited to Facebook) to help provide, understand, and improve our Services," it told users in the updated privacy policy.
Facebook added that it needs the data to continue "performing technical maintenance and developments of the service that improve the experience with the app." Facebook said that Moves wasn't breaking its promise to users because the app is just sharing that data with Facebook not comingling said data.
Needless to say, Moves users were not impressed. Many went so far as to delete the app from their smartphones. Others merely complained loudly on Twitter.
Facebook tried to explain to counter the backlash, but its explanation was a little late. Facebook says that when it comingles data, that means that the data all goes to one place. That way, Facebook can identify a user from that app and try to find them on their own platform, so as to target them with ads and other marketing strategies. Facebook stated that when Moves shares data with Facebook, it can't identify individual users, but rather receives a lump of faceless data that can be used to make the service work better for users.
Facebook added that it has no plans to comingle data with Moves and thereby justified its stance that everyone's data is safe - sort of.
Although some users will undoubtedly delete Moves, many more will stay and new users will join. Data sharing or not, it's a good fitness tracking app. The decision to delete or not to delete, depends entirely on your desire for privacy. If you've already sold your soul to Facebook, you might not mind this new development too much. However, if you're one of the hold outs, you might want to read that privacy policy in detail.
