We have been working on creating the ability to authenticate certain social networks with the Social Warfare plugin. Right now, this only includes Facebook, but soon we hope to integrate several others.
We are keen on protecting users’ personal privacy and data. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of what authentication is, what information it requires, and exactly what we use it for.
First, let’s set a clear definition: The term API refers to an Application Programming Interface. That fancy term simply means that the Social Warfare plugin can access Facebook’s system and access specific pieces of information from Facebook’s database.
When a program or plugin is authenticated and connected to an API, certain pieces of personal data can be seen by the connected software if it requests it. This includes things like your name, email address, and possibly other information as well.
Let us state this as clearly as possible: Social Warfare does not collect any personal information about you from the APIs. None whatsoever. We respect your personal privacy and abhor the data-mining practices of many major corporations. We refuse to be part of the problem. As such, Social Warfare does not collect any personal information about you from the APIs.
The only information collected during the authentication process is a series of unique access tokens that allow our software to contact the APIs on your behalf. These access tokens are stored in the database of your WordPress website. They are not sent to us or stored in our databases.
Once these access tokens are obtained from the authentication, they are used to contact the API and collect information that is used to enhance the functionality of the Social Warfare plugin. Here is an exhaustive list of every single piece of information that the Social Warfare plugin collects on your behalf.
- Facebook authentication is used to collect share count numbers for the URL’s on your website and display these numbers on your share buttons.
Yes, that’s our exhaustive list. Right now, this is the only use we have for that authentication. And again, that information is stored on your server, not ours.
We will never collect personal data from our users other than what is required by law or by the IRS (such as your billing information at checkout). Additionally, any information that we do collect will never be shared with third parties.
