Facebook Has Reportedly Paid People to Use an App that Collects Data From Them

According to a TechCrunch report this week, social media giant Facebook is reportedly paying people to get their data.

The company is paying users to install on app on their phones that can collect data from them.

According to the report, the company has been paying the people in secret to install the app since 2016. Teenagers as well as adults have been paid as much as $20 a month plus referral fees to install an app called “Facebook Research” on their iPhones or Androids.

TechCrunch has reported that according to a security expert, the “Facebook Research” app allows Facebook to collect data including private messages in social media apps, photos and videos to sent, emails, web searches and web browsing activities. The app can also track ongoing location information from other location tracking apps installed in the user’s phone.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed with CNBC that the company is running the program to gather data on usage habits.

“We don’t share this information with others and people can stop participating at any time,” the spokesperson assured.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) and have not been compensated for this article.