Posted on 11/22/2022 9:39:43 AM PST by Red Badger
Information has reportedly included income, filing status, refund amounts.
Major tax preparation services have reportedly been sending sensitive personal financial information to Facebook as part of a potential advertising scheme, according to a report released Tuesday.
Companies such as H&R Block, TaxAct, and TaxSlayer have allegedly been sending Facebook "not only information like names and email addresses but often even more detailed information, including data on users’ income, filing status, refund amounts, and dependents’ college scholarship amounts," a report from the Verge said on Tuesday.
The information "can be used by the company to power its advertising algorithms," the outlet claimed, and it is "gathered regardless of whether the person using the tax filing service has an account on Facebook or other platforms operated by its owner Meta."
The information was reportedly gathered using Meta Pixel, a Facebook code that the company describes as "a snippet of JavaScript code that allows you to track visitor activity on your website."
Several of the companies contacted by the Verge said they would review the data-gathering process for privacy violations. A spokesman for Facebook parent company Meta, meanwhile, told the Verge that advertisers "should not send sensitive information about people through our Business Tools.”
“Doing so is against our policies and we educate advertisers on properly setting up Business tools to prevent this from occurring," the spokesman said. "Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect.”
I use an aforementioned tax software, but not the online version — in part, to address this concern. It’s not as convenient to use the desktop app, but it’s worth it to keep my numbers out of their corrupted corporate hands.
Even that is no guarantee..................
They are not “sending” this information to Facebook. They are SELLING it to Facebook.
Hint: Step #4 involves Facebook.
I use a local CPA firm.
Of that I am sure.................
Who probably uses H&R Block software!...................
In chat for another article about this, someone suggested that an adblocker may have offered some protection against this. Does anyone know about that?
>> A spokesman for Facebook parent company Meta...said... “Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect.”
HAHAHAHAHA! I’m cryin’ here. Of course it’s “designed” to “filter” sensitive data it’s able to detect. And divert it to your file.
Zuckerboy has spent his life building trust and credibility and thereby earning your faith in his pure motives.
HAHAHAHA ROFL!!! I crack myself up sometimes. :-)
What an amoral whore you must be to hire on as Zuckercluck’s spokesman! ER... spokesperson.
Nope. This firm is very strict about client information.
Great. Been e-filing with H&R Block for years.
I would ask them, just the same...............
Check Mark *UCKerberg’s WIFE’S filing cabinet in her office! Yes, Priscilla Chan da CHINESE wife.
>> Even that is no guarantee..................
You are right, sir.
I haven’t noticed any regular traffic on my GlassWire while I’m using their desktop app, but I’m sure they’re competent and sneaky enough to pull it off without me knowing.
But using the online app IS a guaranteed way to ensure your data is on their servers... because your data is on their servers. :-) And Facebook’s servers. And DOJ’s servers. And ...
And IRS Servers.............and Chinese Servers.............And Hillary’s Servers.................
one more reason i love my independent taxgirl, and she just got her PE... great girl
Bttt.
5.56mm
I know of no CPA firm that uses H&R Block software.
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