Author Note. Last year we created the area’s first ChatBot for getting information on Michigan’s Thumb. It’s been used 100’s of times and development continues. Overnight we were informed that Facebook is placing a “pause” on any new Bot development. Its uncertain if ThumbBot will be affected. For the record ThumbBot does not collect any user data other then your username.
Yesterday, Ime Archibong, VP Platform Partnerships and the head of Facebook’s Messenger platform made an announcement yesterday that will affect the Bot developer community.
Facebook is putting a pause on approval reviews on those applications under development that utilize Messenger and link to Pages. Facebook is undergoing an investigation of all applications installed prior to 2014. At that time, Facebook placed restrictions on applications access to Facebook user data. The social network is looking for applications that have access and misuse personally identifiable information. (PII) collected from users on the platform.
Privacy Concerns With the World’s Largest Social Network
The application pause is likely due to the fallout to a story that ran on in the New Zealand Times Herald which told of a developer discovering that phone calls and texts made with his Android phone was being collected by Facebook.
This latest news is on top of reports last week of Facebook user data collected by the UK firm Cambridge Analytica during the 2016 US Presidential election. During the election, the Trump campaign allegedly used a Cambridge Analytica Facebook App to collect the personal data of 50 million users. Over this past weekend, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took out ads in newspapers in the U.S. and UK to apologize for the Cambridge Analytica scandal. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Facebook faces potential fines up to $40,000 per user for personal data accessed without their permission.
Facebook also outlined that other changes will be made to the Messenger platform to protect user data. One new change is that users are informed if an application they are using is found to have misused their personal data. Developers and applications will have to agree to stronger Terms and Conditions along with tougher encouragement for users to manage their data.
Bot Development on Facebook Messenger Affected
Bot development platform Chatfuel informed their users overnight about this development. Chatfuel posted a notice to its base of users indicating, “Facebook is asking developers to temporarily disable the ability for their apps to connect new bots to pages.” It noted that all Messenger Bots currently connected to a Page will not be affected.
Next Steps for Messenger Uncertain
Facebook has not offered a timetable as to when investigation will conclude and pause lifted.
The official notice from Facebook is below.
https://messenger.fb.com/newsroom/messenger-platform-changes-in-development/
Come Prepared to Work – You may have signed up for a specific job but if there is an immediate need you WILL be placed where you’re needed. The front line job is going door-to-door passing out bottled water, filters and test kits. (It’s the best) Working in the warehouse is also a possibility. Therefore be a good Scout and Be Prepared. This includes coats and clothing that you’re comfortable in working in and getting dirty. Wear work or hiking boots. Warm socks. Gloves and hats. Bring a snack, some cash and even stuff to share with your crew like gum or hard candy. By the end of the day you and your crew should be working in unison and small comforts are wonderful.
Even the trained DR (Disaster Recovery), people are only getting their expenses paid otherwise they are working for free. There may be times where nothing is going on and Red Cross and DR folk are on the phone coordinating their next move. Things change quickly and be adaptive. Be supportive and positive as these guys get stressed they been doing this for weeks. When you knock on doors be positive and helpful. If you get a disgruntled individual tell them your here to help but respect their privacy.
water filters, test kits and pamphlets that your will be passing out. Read the instructions out loud to your crew. Talk about it. Residents are anxious and will be asking YOU questions. You’re wearing a Red Cross vest and ID, you’re considered the “expert” and the authority at their door. If you don’t know, tell them you will find out and get an answer from the para-professionals. If your team doesn’t know say so and be prepared to give the residents resources and phone numbers to someone who can help. When you get back to the ERV report what you have learned. If they have kids, say so. If you think they are a shut-in, point it out. If they are an extended family in the house get another case of water and make a note of it. If they want nothing to do with you, say so. That is your job! Your efforts today will bring better results tomorrow.
ACCIDENTS. Cars, Dogs and falls on ice are the enemy in the winter. Work in pairs or a team of three. Yell out when a car is coming. Tell everyone within earshot that you’re on a patch of ice. When you knock on a door yell RED CROSS loud! DO NOT go into a yard with Dog or Guard Dog warnings posted. DO NOT go into a house unless its an emergency. Stay within sight of each other. Put the cell phone away. If a porch seems ready to cave in, back off go to the side door. If you get hurt say so and go back to the ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) Our crew had no incidents and this resulted in over 150 homes visited and two pallets of water distributed.
working in a National Disaster Area. You will see Red Cross ERVs crossing the city everywhere and your will see everyday life going on. It may seem like chaos but you’re here helping out. You will knock on the door of a house that your sure is vacant only to be answered by an 89 year old who isn’t sure about how to get the filter on. You will see a young guy taking care of five kids during the day and he works at midnight. You will smell weed. You will be offered gifts. You will see folk making the best of what they have and you will gain a new respect for them. It’s a life changing experience and I understand why some people are hooked on being a DR groupie.