14 DAY TRIAL // Bad news for those of you who started to use Prisma's live streaming feature, as Facebook has decided to cut off the Russian company from using its Live Video API.
According to a new report coming from TechCrunch, Facebook sent a message to Prisma's developers explaining its decision to bar it from accessing the Live Video API, which enables devs to add live steaming features to their apps:
“Your app streams video from a mobile device camera, which can already be done through the Facebook app. The Live Video API is meant to let people publish live video content from other sources such as professional cameras, multi-camera setups, games or screencasts.”
Prisma introduced the live streaming feature to iOS devices last month, but unlike the standard live streaming, the Russian firm allowed users to apply stylish filters to the video in real time.
Coincidence or not, Facebook wants to introduce a similar feature and has already begun testing it in October when selected users got access to Live Video with filters.
One would think that Facebook isn't fair with those companies that introduce new features that the social network company has plans for, but things aren't as simple as they seem at first glance.
Although Facebook wasn't too specific in its message, upon reading the company's policy for developers it becomes pretty clear that Prisma's live video streaming feature doesn't come in line with one of the rules states by the social network.
According to Facebook's Live Video API's policy, developers should not “use the API to stream directly from a mobile phone or tablet camera to Facebook.”
Unfortunately, that's exactly what Prisma does at the moment, so one could say that Facebook's decision was justified even though it does seem unfair.
In the meantime, Prisma is focusing on releasing another social feature very soon, but after launch, it will consider bringing its live streaming feature to other social networks.