Samsung Phone Users Perturbed to Find They Can't Delete Facebook

[left-of-center2012]

Consumers have become more alert about their digital rights and more vigilant about privacy in the past year, following revelations about Facebook’s information-sharing practices and regulators’ heightened scrutiny of online data collection. Some people have deleted their Facebook accounts in protest of the company’s lapses, while others simply want to make sure they have the option to do so.

Many Android phone users have begun to question Samsung’s deal to sell phones with a permanent version of Facebook -- and some of them are complaining on social media.

A Facebook spokesperson said the disabled version of the app acts like it’s been deleted, so it doesn’t continue collecting data or sending information back to Facebook. But there’s rarely communication with the consumer about the process. The Menlo Park, California-based company said whether the app is deletable or not depends on various pre-install deals Facebook has made with phone manufacturers, operating systems and mobile operators around the world over the years, including Samsung.

Facebook, the world’s largest social network, wouldn’t disclose the financial nature of the agreements, but said they’re meant to give the consumer "the best" phone experience right after opening the box.

José Cortés, a Spaniard living in Sweden:
“I understand Samsung is trying to make it easy for the user, but I don’t like that it does not allow me to uninstall,”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/samsung-phone-users-get-a-shock-they-can-t-delete-facebook

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. This is one of the reasons I still use a Motorola Razr.

I need a phone for calls and texts. If I want to use the iinternet I do it on a proper computer with a decent-sized screen and an actual keyboard.

[left-of-center2012]

3. I just bought a Motorola "Moto e5 play"

Like it very much

[WillowTree]

2. I have an S9+ and I was able to delete the app.

[beachbum bob]

4. you can always disable the app

[grumpyduck]

5. I see a class-action lawsuit

starting to formulate in some lawyer's mind. Owners won't get diddly, but his/her firm could make a fortune.

[marybourg]

6. Google doesn't make it easy to disable its

“Assistant” either. And then when you finally manage to do so, it keeps sending annoying reminders to reactivate it.

[CabalPowered]

7. Package Disabler pro

For the win. It's not FB that bugs me, it's all the Samsung bloatware that seriously annoys me. Only way to turn it off is with a 3rd party app.

[MurrayDelph]

9. The problem with

Package Disabler Pro is that every upgrade is treated as a new installation, in that the old version stops working, and you have to pay them to get it working again.

[MrsCoffee]

8. Yeah, wouldn't believe a word a Facebook spokesperson says.

"A Facebook spokesperson said the disabled version of the app acts like it’s been deleted, so it doesn’t continue collecting data or sending information back to Facebook."

pbbbbbbbbtttttttttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Facebook's only business model is to steal your data.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I have a Note 9

and a Gear VR, and it's the Gear that forces Fakebook to be there because Fakebook owns Gear and Gear makes their VR headset specifically for Samsung phones/phablets. I have no Fakebook account but the app had to be there (and updates itself) to run the VR stuff.

[mfcorey1]

11. There is a google microphone that I have been trying to disable. Everytime

I turn off the app, it reappears and seems like it never disengaged. Yes, Samsung has some"PLAINING" to do about some of the apps. One page popped up from google with the word listening as the only thing on the page. Being spied on by a cell phone is creepy and an invasion of privacy.

[crazycatlady]

12. I have an S9

I disabled the app. I didn't know it existed until I looked at my application manager yesterday.