Privacy flaw- Facebook Messenger Kids failed to serve its very purpose

Facebook Messenger Kids, a free video chat and messaging app designed for kids, was introduced with the promise of providing kids a safer, more controlled environment via parental controls. But a recent design flaw ruined the messenger's very purpose and allowed kids to enter group chats with unauthorized users, The Verge reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the social media giant did not disclose the issue publicly but privately notified thousands of users via a message that reads: "We found a technical error that allowed [CHILD]'s friend [FRIEND] to create a group chat with [CHILD] and one or more of [FRIEND]'s parent-approved friends. We want you to know that we've turned off this group chat and are making sure that group chats like this won't be allowed in the future. If you have questions about Messenger Kids and online safety, please visit our Help Center and Messenger Kids parental controls. We'd also appreciate your feedback."

However, Facebook later confirmed the authenticity of the message to The Verge. "We recently notified some parents of Messenger Kids account users about a technical error that we detected affecting a small number of group chats," a Facebook representative was quoted as saying by The Verge.

"We turned off the affected chats and provided parents with additional resources on Messenger Kids and online safety," he further added.

Launched in December 2017 for kids below the age of 13, the messenger allows parents to fully control the contact list and decide who can connect with their children. It also provides Kids the option to report or block contacts and report inappropriate content. If a child reports any suspicious activity or content, their parents will be notified about the activity.

The app was certified by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a law created to protect the privacy of children under 13, but received severe criticism for collecting the content and information sent and received by the kids in the Messenger.

Video Credit: Google Play

Already mired in privacy row, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company's problems appear to have no end. The social media network has been dogged by controversy in the wake of revelations that defunct British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica used private data of a total of 87 million users without authorization for political targeting.

Facebook later confirmed the charges and apologized for the data leak scandal. But the problem didn't end here, it was followed by another data breach in September 2018, and then again in December 2018, where nearly 6.8 million users risked their private photos being exposed to third-party apps.