Instagram appears to be testing a new setting which would allow it to share user location data with parent company Facebook — meaning Facebook would have a near-complete picture of your movements even if you don’t use its own app. First spotted by researcher Jane Wong, the feature appears under Instagram‘s privacy settings, buried in…
Instagram appears to be testing a new setting which would allow it to share user location data with parent company Facebook — meaning Facebook would have a near-complete picture of your movements even if you don’t use its own app.
First spotted by researcher Jane Wong, the feature appears under Instagram‘s privacy settings, buried in the fine print about Location History.
Specifically, the setting say the Location History “[allows] Facebook products, including Instagram and Messenger, to build and use a history of precise locations received through Location Services on your devices.” The app would use GPS tracking to locate Instagram users even when they’re not using the app.
But don’t take my word on that last bit. Here’s the description of the service in the settings, as shown in Wong’s screenshots:
Raise your hand if you’re surprised. After all, Instagram is a Facebook product, much as its fans would like to forget that fact. The recent departure of its founders and the appointment of Facebook stalwart Adam Mosseri have only served to bridge what was already a slim gap between the two apps.
There’s no telling when, if ever, Location History will eventually roll out. A spokesperson told TechCrunch the feature is one of many features currently in development
FACEBOOK Instagram Tests Feature That Shares Your Location History With Facebook on Gizmodo
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