Twitter uses Two-Factor Authentication Numbers for Targeted Advertising

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Twitter uses Two-Factor Authentication Numbers for Targeted Advertising

Twitter has acknowledged that user phone numbers and email addresses gathered for security purposes, as part of its two-factor authentication policy, may have been used to sell ads. It calls the move an accident.

This situation is clearly a breach of user privacy, since it occurred via a scenario that was meant to bolster user security, not violate it.

Twitter recently admitted that the company discovered that when users provided an email address or phone number for “safety or security purposes”, its advertising system used this information for targeted advertising.

The system allows advertisers to target ads to customers based on the advertiser’s own marketing lists and data provided by third-party partners.

Twitter’s disclosure on the breach is a frightening situation, not just because the company misused personal data handed over to it for safeguarding, but also because it took them nearly a month to disclose this information.

The official apology posted by Twitter on its Help Center is as follows –

“We’re very sorry this happened and are taking steps to make sure we don’t make a mistake like this again.”

Twitter has no plans to tell users if they’re part of this breach. For now, users who want to know more should contact the company using its data protection query page.

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