Facebook’s two-factor authentication system, or 2FA, seems to be having some sort of a glitch. The 2FA system is supposed to provide an extra layer of security by asking for additional confirmation of users’ identities. In this case, however, users claimed to have been spammed with notification texts.
It doesn’t stop there. If you reply to these messages, those replies get auto-posted to your Facebook profile. Facebook has been criticized for giving priority to engagement over security and for swamping users with unwanted information.
Another issue is that the social media giant also tries to set you up with potential friends using your phone number. If any of your acquaintances have uploaded their phone numbers on Facebook, the site pairs it with your 2FA number and sends you suggestions under “People You May Know.”
Talk about the hassle! Critics say those trying this feature for the first time would likely be fed up and perhaps not opt for 2FA at all, rendering them vulnerable to hacks.
This also poses a legal problem for the media maverick. The law states that no company may contact a person via text without express consent. If it turns out that Facebook is intentionally trying to get customers to use the site without their consent, it might end up in hot water.
It is yet to be determined whether this action, particularly the auto-posting one, is being caused by a bug. Facebook has not offered any clarification on this as of the moment this news was first published.