Instagram Launches 'Data Download' Tool To Let You Leave

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Two weeks ago TechCrunch called on Instagram to build an equivalent to Facebook's "Download Your Information" feature so if you wanted to leave for another photo sharing network, you could. The next day it announced this tool would be coming and now TechCrunch has spotted it rolling out to users. Instagram's "Data Download" feature can be accessed here or through the app's privacy settings. It lets users export their photos, videos, archived Stories, profile, info, comments, and non-ephemeral messages, though it can take a few hours to days for your download to be ready. An Instagram spokesperson now confirms to TechCrunch that "the Data Download tool is currently accessible to everyone on the web, but access via iOS and Android is still rolling out." We'll have more details on exactly what's inside once my download is ready.

Download? What about delete?

[TFlan91]

Great, I can download all my Facebook and Instragram data.

Now... what about deleting it from their servers?

Re:

[goombah99]

No need to delete, they arent' sending you a copy of your data, it's the data itself. they send you the very same electrons you sent it to them with right back to you.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually I think you're the one that missed the joke

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[cyn1c77]

No need to delete, they arent' sending you a copy of your data, it's the data itself. they send you the very same electrons you sent it to them with right back to you.

But what about the entangled electrons that they keep?

I'd have to delete my data to delete those, right?

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[qortra]

I'm sure it's coming. The Data Download tool is likely a requirement to satisfy the new GDPR regulation that goes into effect in a month or so, specifically article 20 ( Right to Data Portability: https://gdpr-info.eu/art-20-gd... [gdpr-info.eu] ). There is another requirement in the same regulation that guarantees the right to erasure ( https://gdpr-info.eu/art-17-gd... [gdpr-info.eu] )

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[gnick]

I can download all my Facebook and Instragram data.

I'm not an Instagram user, but I've used the Facebook "Download Your Data" function. It'll let you download a copy of everything you've uploaded (pics, vids, posts, messages), but it leaves out a lot. Facebook collects a lot of information based on Location Services if it's on and they track web activity wherever they're able. None of that is included in what they make available to download. The stuff that I suspect is most valuable is kept hidden.

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[tlhIngan]

I'm not an Instagram user, but I've used the Facebook "Download Your Data" function. It'll let you download a copy of everything you've uploaded (pics, vids, posts, messages), but it leaves out a lot. Facebook collects a lot of information based on Location Services if it's on and they track web activity wherever they're able. None of that is included in what they make available to download. The stuff that I suspect is most valuable is kept hidden.

Well, the law states that the download function, meant for d

Finally.

[Mr0bvious]

I'm signing up now just so I can use this!

About time!

Nothing to do with the GDPR

[Anonymous Coward]

...nothing at all.

Data Download tool

[viewham]

Superb I can download my data in both accounts.

Another Hotel California allows leaving

[nospam007]

Checking out was never the problem, as the song clearly states.