Shocking: Here’s How Much Personal Data Facebook Has On You

Facebook is currently facing a massive backlash from both government authorities and the public due to it’s failure to safely handle their private/personal data.

A shocking revelation to many, Facebook’s framework itself “allowed” a research firm, Cambridge Analytica get access to heaps of public data back in 2014. Accounts of more than 50 million users were collected through a simple third-party app called This Is Your Digital Life.

If this makes you worry about your own data, rest assured. Just like Google, Facebook also allows you to download all of the information they collect about you, so you can know what Facebook has learned about you. There are also ways to prevent Facebook from tracking your activity and data.

I’ve downloaded my data-archive which shows everything Facebook has stored on me, let’s break it down and see what’s included.

Messages, Calls, Contacts – Everything

The archive I downloaded was roughly 400 MB and contained all information that Facebook had on me.

It contains every message you have ever sent, every message you have received, every picture you have sent and received, all audio files that you have sent and received, and even all of your phone contacts with their numbers and names.

Surely, this data is used by Facebook to help find people and make connections, however, the Cambridge Analytica case shows how easily any third-party can access this data and misuse it.

The “contact_info” HTML file (you can open these files using your web browser) contains a list of all contacts, including name and numbers, stored in my phone.

Scrolling down, the file shows a complete log of cellular calls I made, including their time, duration, and number dating years back. The same file even contains a complete log of SMS and MMS sent and received.

Facebook says that they explicitly asked the users for permission before accessing their call logs. However, for some of them, Facebook gained access automatically and they were not asked for permission. I remember allowing Facebook on my phone to access my contacts, but that’s not the point.

It just goes to show how much is at stake if we trust Facebook with our personal information.

Even Stickers And Login Location

If we further explore the rest of the files in the “html” folder, “ads.htm” contains a complete compilation of things and topics you are interested in.

These topics are used to personalize the kind of ads that Facebook shows you. They can be used to find out your interests, your relationship status, your mood, and even which brand of electronics you prefer. If you scroll till the end of “ads.htm”, there’s a separate “advertisers with your contact info” heading, you should take a look at that.

Moreover, Facebook keeps track of each and every session of yours – in the “security.htm” file, there’s a complete list of IP addresses, MAC addresses, and browsers that you used to log into Facebook.

There’s a separate heading that includes each and every IP address – which can be used to track a computer’s location – you have logged in with. This log also dates back years (depending on when you signed up on Facebook) and also tells at what time you logged in.

Applications, Webcam, and Microphone

Facebook also collects your real-time location data based on third-party app-usage because we often use it to log into another website. These apps also help the social network know what times we use these apps, for what purpose, to interact with whom, etc.

Remember that Facebook and the third-party apps also have access to your microphone and webcam at any time. Another file, “apps.htm” lists all the Facebook-based applications which you have used.

It is also able to monitor each and every online activity of it’s users, including what music you listen to, what radio stations you prefer, which movie you want to watch, who do you message often, which files you send, and even your entire call history.

If you want to check your own Facebook data archive, you can download it from here.


  • Its worth reading bro I want to ask that how you have downloaded that data kindly if you please guide.

    • Hi there, I’ve included a link at the end of this article. It will redirect you to a Facebook help page, it has all the necessary links and steps. Thank you for your feedback!

    • It was the right thing at the inappropriate time. Inappropriate in the sense that people didn’t have the focus or concern. The case of “Cambridge Analytica” has created the hype and a consciousness buzz now.

      • Exactly! Otherwise it’s not the issue. Only Facebook has this information, and not the person who lives next to me. Otherwise such type of information is tracked by every major software, and you can see the log.

  • @sarmadsameer:disqus What happens if someone delete facebook app in his phone. Can they access our mobile cameras?

    • Deleting the app will do the job yes. But you don’t necessarily have to delete it, you can disable its permissions too and it wont be able to access your device’s camera or microphone.

  • Anything moving around internet hardly possible to consider safe until unless one is having demilitarized zone and proper information security arrangements in place.


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