Facebook reminds developers deadline for app reviews is less than a month away

Facebook is reminding developers that in order to keep access to a number of APIs, the app review deadline is August 1.

Developers wanting to retain their access to any of the following APIs for existing apps will need to submit their apps for review and “re-request” permission to use the APIs:

• Facebook Login outside of email and default (any apps or websites that allow users to sign in using their Facebook account).
• Pages API.
• Groups API.
• Events API.
• Messenger API.
• Instagram API.
• Business Manager API.

After the Cambridge Analytica news story broke — when Facebook revealed it had suspended the analytics company for improperly employing user data gathered with an app — Facebook temporarily shut down its app review process to perform an extensive audit of all the apps on the platform.

The company has since suspended 200 more apps and reopened the review process, but is now enforcing stricter guidelines around the amount of data — and APIs — apps have access to.

As part of Facebook’s new review process, existing apps must now “re-request” access to the listed APIs so that Facebook can evaluate whether or not the app will get to retain its access to the functionality and data available via the API.

In addition to the coming August 1 deadline, developers wanting to keep their access to the Marketing API and Lead Ads Retrieval API have another seven months to submit their app for review.

“If you are using our Marketing API or Lead Ads Retrieval API, you have until February 1, 2019, to re-request permission to use them and any related permissions,” writes Facebook in the developer blog post.

Facebook announced just yesterday that apps would have to pass a review process to keep access to its Marketing and Lead Ads Retrieval API. (Apps will also need to be reviewed for permission to continue using the Live video API, but no deadline has been given for it yet.)

Facebook says it is working to reduce the review process wait time. According to the blog post, Messenger bot reviews now take three business days, but app reviews for Facebook Login, the Pages API and Groups API are taking much longer, averaging about seven weeks before app developers know whether or not access to these APIs will be revoked.

About The Author

Amy Gesenhues

Amy Gesenhues is Third Door Media's General Assignment Reporter, covering the latest news and updates for Marketing Land and Search Engine Land. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs.com, SoftwareCEO.com, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy's articles.