Popular social networking site Facebook has announced that it would allow developers to access users' addresses and phone numbers, a move that is enough to stir up the hornet's nest.

On Friday night, Facebook posted an entry on its official blog to inform it's more than half a billion users about the move.

The changes have been made to a box that appears when users download third-party apps. When a Facebook user downloads a third-party app, a 'request for permission' box emerges requesting for access to basic information. Now, this box has an extra section which asks for access to the user's address and mobile number.

It means that downloader's of the popular Facebook apps, like that of Farmville, are allowing apps to access basic information.

Privacy experts are criticizing Facebook's recent move. But, Facebook claims that it is not releasing the basic information into the wild.

Speaking over privacy concerns, Facebook said, "Because this is sensitive information, we have created the new user_address and user_mobile_phone permissions."

Facebook adds that users will be informed when a third-party app accesses their addresses and mobile-phone numbers.