Instagram’s new location-sharing update is raising privacy concerns, with users reporting their whereabouts were shared without their knowledge despite Meta saying the update is opt-in.
Experts warn that location-sharing features are linked to a higher risk of tech-based coercive control.
The controversy follows other recent privacy issues for Meta, including a lawsuit over the misuse of sensitive health data from a women’s health tracking app.
There was a time Facebook chat would share precise locations with every message by default. None of the people who sent me their location along with a message knew they were doing that when I told them.
I knew a girl who once worked on a supposedly clandestine “special ops” tv show. She messaged me halfway through shooting explaining how disillusioned she was with the whole affair. I asked if, that notwithstanding, whether she had a lovely time in Costa Rica … she was horrified that I knew her location as all public releases of the tv show had them being “special ops” in Africa somewhere.
As you pointed out, Facebook Messenger let that cat out of the bag.