Facebook drains users’ cellphone batteries intentionally
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A long-standing rumor suggests that the Facebook and Facebook Messenger apps drain the battery on cellphones that have the apps installed. If you believe former Facebook employee George Hayward, a data scientist, Facebook can secretly drain the battery on its users’ cellphones on purpose. There is actually a name for what it is that Facebook is doing, It is called “negative testing” and it allows tech companies to secretly run down the batteries on someone’s phone to test features on an app or to see how an image might load.
Facebook parent Meta fired Haywar for refusing to participate in negative testing. “I said to the manager, ‘This can harm somebody,’ and she said by harming a few we can help the greater masses. Any data scientist worth his or her salt will know, Don’t hurt people,” he told the Post.
Meta axed Hayward in November and initially filed a lawsuit against the company in Manhattan Federal Court. The 33-year-old worked for Meta’s Facebook Messenger app, which delivers text, phone calls, and video calls between users. In the suit, Hayward’s attorney, Dan Kaiser, pointed out that draining users’ smartphone batteries puts people at risk, especially “in circumstances where they need to communicate with others, including but not limited to police or other rescue workers.”
The suit had to be withdrawn because Meta’s terms of employment forced Hayward to argue his case in arbitration. Kaiser says that most people have no idea that Facebook and other social media companies can drain your battery intentionally. Commenting on the practice of negative testing, the lawyer added, “It’s clearly illegal. It’s enraging that my phone, that the battery can be manipulated by anyone.”
Originally hired in 2019, Hayward was receiving a six-figure annual paycheck from Meta. But when it came to the company’s request to perform the negative testing, Hayward said, “I refused to do this test. It turns out if you tell your boss, ‘No, that’s illegal,’ it doesn’t go over very well.”
At one point during his employment at Meta, the company handed Hayward an internal training document titled “How to run thoughtful negative tests.” The document included examples of how to run such tests. After reading the document, Hayward said that it appeared to him that Facebook had used negative testing before. He added, “I have never seen a more horrible document in my career.”
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the specific purpose of Facebook's 'negative testing' practice?
What is the specific purpose of Facebook's 'negative testing' practice?
A.
Negative testing allows tech companies to secretly deplete phone batteries. This is done to test new app features or to observe how images might load on a user's device.
Q.Why did George Hayward refuse to participate in the negative testing?
Why did George Hayward refuse to participate in the negative testing?
A.
Hayward refused because he believed the practice could harm users, particularly in emergencies. He stated that deliberately draining batteries was illegal and unethical.
Q.What happened to the lawsuit George Hayward initially filed against Meta?
What happened to the lawsuit George Hayward initially filed against Meta?
A.
The lawsuit had to be withdrawn because Meta's employment terms required Hayward to argue his case through arbitration. This meant it could not proceed in Manhattan Federal Court.
Q.Has Facebook used this 'negative testing' method previously, according to Hayward?
Has Facebook used this 'negative testing' method previously, according to Hayward?
A.
Yes, after reviewing an internal training document on negative testing, Hayward believed that Facebook had likely employed this practice before. He found the document disturbing.
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