Google, Facebook Bicker Over Contacts

Angered by Facebook’s data export policies, Google barred Facebook users from importing Gmail contacts last week—but Facebook quickly found a way around the problem, the Guardian reports. Calling for a “world of true data liberation,” Google labeled the social networking site a “data dead end” because users can’t easily export their contact data from the site.

The search giant said only sites that shared its stance on data export would have access to its contacts feed. But over at Facebook, a little hacking dodged a bullet. Using the services provided by Google’s Data Liberation Front, Facebook began allowing users to download their Gmail contacts, then upload them, all without leaving the social network. Google fired back, saying it was “disappointed” but would keep allowing users to export contacts.
(More Google stories.)