In a recent revelation from court documents, it's been disclosed that Netflix reportedly spent over $100 million to acquire access to private user data from Facebook, including personal messages.
This deal entailed Netflix providing bi-weekly updates to Facebook on recommendation sends and recipient clicks. The integration of Facebook began in 2011, with Netflix lobbying Congress for data-sharing legislation. By 2013, Netflix secured agreements granting access to Facebook users' private messages, facilitated by Facebook's "Extended API" and "Titan API." Notably, Reed Hastings, then Netflix's CEO and a Facebook board member, managed this relationship. The lawsuit, unveiled on March 23, reveals the intricate relationship between the tech giants, alleging a "special relationship" where Facebook provided "bespoke access" to user data, aiding Netflix's content tailoring efforts.
The lawsuit, filed by Maximilian Klein and Sarah Grabert, asserts that within a month of Hastings joining Facebook's board, the companies signed an agreement allowing Netflix programmatic access to Facebook users' private message inboxes.
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