Facebook paid children to watch them on the internet and read their private messages

The 'Facebook Research App' tracked private messages, web browsing and location data

A Facebook sign is seen during the China International Import Expo (CIIE), at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai (REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo)

Facebook paid children to watch them as they used their phones and sent private messages, it has emerged.

The company gave children money to install a piece of software onto their devices which would then track what it did, with "nearly limitless access". That included seeing children's private messages, watching them as they used the internet, and tracking their real-life location.

Facebook said the programme was being wrongly represented. But it is nonetheless coming to an end on Apple's platforms.

The group – which included adults as well as children – signed up to the scheme that would mean Facebook would give them money for the access. To take part, they had to install a piece of software that then tracked just about everything they did on their phone, according to Techcrunch, which first reported the scheme.

Users were recruited through sign-up pages that make clear the data is being collected to improve Facebook's services and that they should not tell people about the project.

Facebook said it would be bringing the programme to a close on Apple's phones. It has not made a similar move on Android.

While admitting that the programme was being run, it denied suggestions that it was secret or that it was being used to spy on children.

“Key facts about this market research program are being ignored," a Facebook spokesperson said. "Despite early reports, there was nothing 'secret' about this; it was literally called the Facebook Research App.

"It wasn't 'spying' as all of the people who signed up to participate went through a clear on-boarding process asking for their permission and were paid to participate. Finally, less than 5 percent of the people who chose to participate in this market research program were teens. All of them with signed parental consent forms.”