Facebook is holding on tight to its contact information, and Twitter determined to bring out the fail whale as many times as possible during the World Cup. After adding an update that would allow you to automatically follow your Facebook friends, Twitter’s new major feature was facing major problems. Users trying out the auto-follow were met with errors, with Twitter execs saying the problem was on Facebook’s end.

The auto-follow fail

Facebook hasn’t necessarily denied the block, but has said that they’re working on a resolution. That’s fine, just fine. While users are anxious to take advantage of the new feature, Twitter and Facebook find themselves at a standstill. The two companies have been competing with each other for user loyalty for owning the world’s status updates, and Facebook’s latest block is indicative of the strife that’s been brewing for well over a year now.

According to Inside Facebook,

Right now, however, the find-Facebook-friends functionality isn’t working. At first, Twitter described the problem as an intentional block from Facebook, but now both companies are saying that they are working together to solve the problem. Given that the Twitter app is using the Facebook platform in the same way as many other third parties, we expect the problem — whatever it is — to be resolved. In the meantime, Twitter is has stopped directing users from its site to its Facebook application.

Facebook pulled a similar move with Plaxo a couple years back, but that was before the social network launched Connect or the universal Like button, or many of its other initiatives to make the whole world social. One thing remains consistent: Facebook’s not giving up its contact info too easily.

Somewhere, someone is taking comfort in that fact, given Facebook’s growing notoriety for trading in user privacy. Facebook is dealing with a great deal of scrutiny in light of all these privacy issues. Whatever the reason behind the contact syncing face-off, we’re sure to see this particular issue resolved soon, with another follow-up move my Facebook not to far in the distant future. At least enterprise solutions are finally starting to find cooperative ways in which to incorporate social networking.