Facebook’s Big Payments Hint

facebook-payment

Facebook notifications might soon not be just about new messages, updates and pokes, but also for money sent and received.

A few weeks ago, iOS developer and Stanford University computer science student Andrew Aude tweeted a screenshot hidden in Facebook’s messenger app, which fed the rumor mill about Facebook’s plans to tighten its claws around the payments ecosystem, according to a report.

Today, an update to its privacy policy, which now includes rights to collect data like credit card details and purchases, has further made it clear that Facebook is game to lock horns with other payment products like Google Wallet and PayPal.

The new payments policy states, “If you use our services for purchases or financial transactions (like when you buy something on Facebook, make a purchase in a game, or make a donation), we collect information about the purchase or transaction. This includes your payment information, such as your credit or debit card number and other card information, and other account and authentication information, as well as billing, shipping and contact details,” according to recode.net.

While Facebook’s popularity might be on the decline, development of new payment products to feed its revenue stream would definitely help keep the company’s coffers full, which until now have been heavily dependent on revenue from advertising.