Facebook is giving developers the ability to build features on its platform. Essentially, it announced that it will be releasing Platform Policy section 4.1, which states that you should “Add something unique to the community. Don’t replicate core functionality that Facebook already provides.”
This policy seems pretty silly, given how many times Facebook has copied the core functionality of others, such as Snapchat and Twitter. On the contrary, it has previously accused competitors who used the Find Friends or other features that had gone viral on Facebook. In fact, apps like Vine, Voxer, MessageMe, Phhhoto and others have been removed from Facebook’s platform for copying its own apps. Find Friends is a vital API that allows Facebook users to find their friends on other apps.
The upside is that anyone looking for ways to abuse Facebook will be rejected. This creates a fairer and more open platform where developers can build new, fresh ideas, which will revitalize the developer ecosystem.
This restriction is one of the changes that Facebook made after the scandal with Cambridge Analytica. Since April the platform has already been locked for security reasons and protection of users' private lives.
The policy change will be applied retroactively. Legacy apps that have lost Find Friends functionality or other features will be able to submit for review and, once approved, will regain access.
Naturally, friend lists still cannot be exported in an interoperable way. At least, developers will no longer be at risk of losing access to the Find Friends Facebook API.
