Snapchat employees stored users’ personal data and spied on them

Many employees of Snap, which owns a large social network, Snapchat, used their access to spy on users.

According to VICE material, two ex-employees testified the fact of malicious use of internal access, the current employee, as well as corporate mail collected by the Motherboard portal.

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In the report is also noted about inner instruments that allowed Snap’s employees getting access to users’ data, as geolocation, phone numbers and emails.

“One of the internal tools that can access user data is called SnapLion, according to multiple sources and the emails. The tool was originally used to gather information on users in response to valid law enforcement requests, such as a court order or subpoena”, — two former employees said for VICE

Besides, according to magazine’s source, Snap’s employees could store pictures and videos that users published in stories. As a rule, such materials deleted within 24 hours, however, special tools allowed saving them.

“Many users may forget: behind the products we use every day there are people with access to highly sensitive customer data, who need it to perform essential work on the service. But, without proper protections in place, those same people may abuse it to spy on users’ private information or profiles”, — emphasize VICE journalists.

Source: https://www.vice.com