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Facebook has disabled the capability that let users share their cell phone numbers and physical addresses with developers of applications they use on the site as well as with publishers of sites they’ve linked their accounts to.

This new capability was introduced last Friday only and prompted complaints and concerns that user’s privacy can easily compromised.

Facebook official Douglas Purdy wrote on Facebook Developers blog, “Over the weekend, we got some useful feedback that we could make people more clearly aware of when they are granting access to this data. We agree, and we are making changes to help ensure you only share this information when you intend to do so. We’ll be working to launch these updates as soon as possible, and will be temporarily disabling this feature until those changes are ready.”

According to senior technology consultant Graham Cluley at IT security and control firm Sophos, rogue developers would try to exploit this new capability to mine phone numbers and addresses giving rise to identity thefts and spam.

It’s a good thing that Facebook decided to disable the feature, but users must be aware of what they are sharing with third-party applications and websites. Learn more about new features, especially that gives you the capability to share your information outside Facebook, before clicking away.

In an interesting turn of event, Lockport police posted a thank-you note on 39-year-old Christopher Crego’s Facebook page saying, “It was due to your diligence in keeping us informed that now you are under arrest.”

According to the source, police in western New York said the fugitive all but turned himself in by posting his workplace on Facebook and MySpace.

Mr. Crego, who was wanted since he failed to show up for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty in the fall to assault and was also charged with drunken driving, drug possession and using a BB gun to kill birds, was arrested on Wednesday at a tattoo parlor where he was working in Terre Haute (teh-ruh Hoht’), Ind.

We have heard a lot of news over the past weeks and months about escaped inmates and wanted criminals taunting the police through Facebook. Now, it looks like the tables have turn and the police are having the last laugh.

[Source: LA Times]