The US-based social media giant Twitter has confirmed that user’s data, including their emails and phone numbers, provided by the users for security purposes, might have been used “inadvertently” for advertising purposes.
According to Business Today, the microblogging firm noted that it couldn’t respond “with certainty” as to how many members have been influenced by this, but affirmed that no personal information was ever shared externally with their partners or any other third parties.
In a statement, Twitter said that they recently discovered that when one provides an email or phone number for security or safety purposes, the data might have inadvertently been used for advertising purposes, specifically in their Tailored Audiences and Partner Audiences advertising system.
Twitter repeatedly apologizes for the happening
It added that it had addressed the issue that let this occur, as of 17th September, and is no longer using mobile numbers or emails collected for security and safety purposes for advertising.
Twitter apologized for the happening and said that they were taking steps to ensure not to repeat the mistake.
In its statement, the firm explained that when an advertiser must’ve uploaded their marketing list, it might have matched people on Twitter to the list based on their email or phone number that the user had provided for security and safety purposes.
Last year, the firm admitted to storing passwords in plaintext, confirmed a location data leak in May, and disclosed a mobile number leak bug, despite knowing about it for two years.
