Facebook had considered selling users' data via Graph API for $250,000: Report

Facebook thought of selling users' data to third-parties in 2012 but later chose to act against it, ArsTechnica reports. According to a report citing unredacted court document, folks over at Facebook decided to grant third-parties access to its Graph API that collects a vast amount of users' personal information, for at least  $250,000. Facebook's Graph API was an underlying issue in Cambridge Analytica data scandal last year.

Report has it that Facebook provided several companies including Nissan, Royal Bank of Canada, Chrysler/FiatLyft, Airbnb, Netflix etc. with extended access to Graph API v 1.0. Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying that Chrysler/Fiat and the other companies, besides Nissan and Royal Bank of Canada, were listed incorrectly in the court document.

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The report comes following the British Parliament obtaining internal Facebook documents from Six4Three, a US-based software company. In 2015, Six4Three sued Facebook alleging the social networking giant of violating a contract between the two companies. Facebook, in response, defended itself saying that claims made by Six4Three's have no merit, and Facebook will continue to defend itself "vigorously".

In May 2018, Six4Three filed a new lawsuit against Facebook, accusing social networking giant of using its apps to collect information from its users as well their friends. Last month, the New York Times investigation made some explosive revelations about Facebook’s partnership with other companies, where Facebook allowed Netflix, Spotify and the Royal Bank of Canada to access users' private messages.