Facebook rolls out updates to its App Dashboard, giving developers more control over app permissions

Facebook on Tuesday announced new tools in the App Dashboard to help streamline the app review process for developers. The updates will enable app developers to only request the necessary permissions for apps.

The new tools will also help Facebook better understand how developers are using and accessing its platform, the company said. With the updates, developers are able to request access to only the required permissions and information from the platform. These updates include:

More clarity around permissions. In the app review process, Facebook has made it easier for developers to understand which permissions they need with a new tool that sees beyond API calls and commonly used endpoints.

Remove unwanted permissions. Currently, Facebook notifies developers with messages about the permissions requested, along with the action needed by the developer. With the new feature, developers are able to remove permission access from the dashboard and will no longer receive messages related to it.

View App Review requests. Facebook has launched a new page where developers can access past permission requests made in App Review. This information gives teams insight into what permissions have been requested before and improves submissions moving forward.

Why we care. The new updates will enable developers to only access the permissions that they need, marking another step in Facebook’s efforts to create a more privacy-focused ecosystem for users in the wake of heightened scrutiny following years of playing it fast and loose with user data in its app ecosystem. The tools will streamline the app review process and help protect sensitive data in the long run, but it’s likely it will also require developers to jump through a few extra hoops at first. Facebook said it plans to continue releasing new features to make the process simpler.