Facebook fires employee for bragging about access to user data

Facebook has 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”.

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

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

The sacking was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.