How private is your Facebook data? Chinese mobile makers had access to it

Facebook has been responding to a global backlash about how it handles users' data, from lawmakers and privacy advocates in the US and Europe

Facebook Inc said it had data-sharing partnerships with four Chinese consumer-device makers, including Huawei Technologies Co, escalating concerns that the social network has consistently failed to tell users how their personal information flows beyond Facebook. 

The disclosure came after Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said earlier Tuesday that he saw "a serious danger" that Facebook shared user information with Chinese device makers. Facebook said it was careful about the partnerships, which were designed to help smartphone makers build custom versions of Facebook's app. Still, the confirmation is likely to heighten scrutiny of the company's privacy practices