Facebook may be using users' phone locations to recommend friends on the platform.
This would mean if two people have their GPS turned on within the Facebook app, and both parties are in the same vicinity for long enough, they may find the other in their 'People you may know' list.
This, even though they have never met in real life, but happened to be at the same function or shared a bus ride.
On Monday, Fusion reported the social network admitted to using location data when recommending friends, but noted other factors were included too, like overlapping interest and networks.
On Tuesday, the social network changed its tune, and said in a statement it did not base recommended friends on shared locations.
"We may show you people based on mutual friends, work and education information, networks you are part of, contacts you've imported and other factors," said a Facebook spokesperson.
Then, late yesterday, another report emerged to say the confusion (from Facebook's PR team) crept in because the network had tested the feature for a month last year. But it assured users it was not using the function anymore.
Unsettling situations
Despite Facebook saying it was just a test and is not how the social network currently bases friend recommendations, many users have come out to say they have had a similar situation happen to them.
Twitter user Soubhagya Sahoo said: "A client once pointed out the same to me on a market visit - how I came up on his FB friend suggestions."
Another, Jenn Downs, tweeted: "I have all location settings off, but I'm pretty sure this is still happening to me based on recent suggestions."
Arthur Goldstuck, World Wide Worx MD, says there is not much difference between Facebook using location services to recommend friends and using mutual friends.
"There is often as little reason to connect to someone because you know the same people as it is to connect because you frequent the same places. The latter may even make for a better match in many cases."
However, he adds: "The facility has the potential to be a stalker's dream."
He says if a stalker hung around in the same vicinity as his/her target for long enough, the identity of the target would pop up in his/her recommended friends list, along with extensive personal information.
"Children and adolescents in particular should never have location settings turned on as a default, but it's not advisable for anyone."
Goldstuck also recommends limiting what information on users' profiles is open to the public.
Jason Jordaan, principal forensic scientist at DFIR Labs, says from a social engineering perspective, the function could be used to gather information on a potential target.
Location potential
Turning on location services within the Facebook app is useful for other features, such as checking into locations and getting relevant adverts.
Goldstuck says users should turn the service on when they want to check in to a venue, but then turn it off afterwards.
However, ICT commentator Adrian Schofield says the same technology helps identify local stores, clubs and caf'es the user may be interested in visiting.
He adds: "In the tradition of the best crime series on TV - should anything untoward happen to you, sharing your location on social media may be the quickest way of finding you."
Schofield says potential hackers already misuse so much of the personal information users willingly share on social media: "They probably know your location without needing this feature."
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