The complaint stems from a court filing related to a class action lawsuit over data privacy practices involving Meta.
Recently, the following claim has been circulating on social media platform X: Meta (formerly Facebook) Netflix Access to users’ private messages.These claims have since attracted attention Elon MuskThe owner of X responded to multiple posts about the issue with comments like “Amazing” and “That’s right.” The complaint stems from a court filing related to a class action lawsuit over data privacy practices involving Meta.
The documents in question suggest that Meta and Netflix had a “special relationship,” with Meta giving Netflix access to the company’s “Inbox API” and allowing the streaming service to access users’ private information on Facebook. He is said to have made it possible to programmatically access his message inbox. The filing also alleges that Meta has cut spending on original programming on its Facebook Watch video service to avoid competing with Netflix, a key Facebook advertiser.
In response to these claims, Meta’s director of communications, Andy Stone, disputed the accuracy of the document’s claims. Stone told X that while Netflix had access to Meta’s Inbox API, the agreement did not include sharing users’ private messages with Netflix. Instead, users will be able to message his Facebook friends about what they’re watching on Netflix directly from his Netflix app, something Stone thought was commonplace in the industry.
Meta’s denials contrast with reports such as a 2018 New York Times report that claimed Netflix and Spotify had access to users’ private messages. At the time, Meta denied these claims, stating that the access provided to Netflix and Spotify via the API allowed users to directly message their friends about their activity on those platforms, and allowed third parties to do so without the user’s permission. It said in a blog post that it does not read or write private messages.
However, it is worth noting that Meta’s messenger platform did not implement default end-to-end encryption until December 2023, leaving messages potentially vulnerable despite access restrictions. Although Stone downplays Netflix’s ability to monitor private messages, it is significant that Netflix was granted a level of access not granted to other companies.
According to the document, Netflix had access to Meta’s Titan API, a private API that enables integration with Facebook’s messaging app. In exchange for this access, Netflix agreed to provide Meta with regular reports on recommendation submissions and recipient clicks, and to keep the API agreement confidential. Netflix’s close relationship with Meta extends beyond his API access, with his then-Netflix CEO reed hastings Interact directly with Meta executives, including CEO Mark zuckerberg.
Mr. Zuckerberg reportedly contacted Meta executives to preserve Netflix’s advertising business, adjusted Facebook Watch’s budget and added original content in 2018 to avoid direct competition with Netflix. and reduced spending on sports content by $750 million. The decision comes after Facebook invested two years into building its Watch business.
The documents also reveal Meta’s alleged monitoring of Snapchat traffic and other undisclosed activities.
Although Meta denies allegations that it gave Netflix access to users’ private messages, the situation highlights the complexities of data privacy and partnerships between tech companies. Despite Meta’s claims, concerns persist regarding the protection of user data and the scope of access granted to third-party entities. The landscape of data privacy regulation and encryption practices is evolving, highlighting the continued need for transparency and accountability in the digital realm.