Data Brokers

Data brokers are companies that collect a variety of information on in suspecting users. Even though data brokers may seem new because of Facebook being in the headlines but its not, data brokers have been around for a while collecting information. They compile all that data and afterwards they sell the data to other companies so they it can help them know their customer base more and advertise better or target a specific audience.

Facebook & Data Brokers
Data brokers have become a big part of Facebook's problem today. Due to Facebook using third party companies in order to categorize its user base and service each person based on the data gather from third party companies like Acxiom which lead to the questioning of Facebook on their Data privacy policies, because of this Facebook had decided to not allow third party companies to collect data on its users.