Facebook fires employee over Tinder post about access to private user info

Facebook Inc. says it has fired an employee accused of bragging on matchmaking app Tinder about his access to private user information.

Facebook security engineer accused of 'using privileged access to stalk women online'

Thomson Reuters · Posted: May 03, 2018 8:54 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 3, 2018

Guest are welcomed by people in Facebook shirts as they arrive at the Facebook Canadian Summit in Toronto on March 28, 2018. Ime Archibong, vice-president of product partnerships, says that if any evidence is found that the suspended apps or other apps have misused data, they will be banned. (Chris Donovan/Canadian Press)

Facebook Inc. on Thursday said that it fired an employee accused of bragging on matchmaking app Tinder about his access to private user information.

The incident comes as Facebook faces global concerns about personal data privacy, including Congressional hearings at which Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg testified.

A Twitter user earlier on Wednesday posted about the Tinder conversation along with screenshots, saying Facebook's security engineer is "likely using privileged access to stalk women online".

I’ve been made aware that a security engineer currently employed at Facebook is likely using privileged access to stalk women online. <br><br>I have Tinder logs. What should I do with this information?
—@find_evil

In the unverified screenshot, the employee in question writes of being a "professional stalker" searching for hackers.

In a statement, Facebook's Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos said the company quickly investigated the situation and immediately fired the person.

Access to sensitive data is logged, and the company has automated systems designed to detect and prevent abuse, Stamos said.

"Employees who abuse these controls will be fired — period."