Facebook Fails To Convince Lawmakers It Needs To Track Your Location At All Times (cnbc.com) 25
Lawmakers aren't convinced that Facebook needs to track users' locations at all times -- even when their tracking services are turned off. CNBC reports: Facebook was responding to an inquiry from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who asked Facebook last month to "respect" users' decisions to keep their locations private. In a letter dated December 12 that was released Tuesday, Facebook explained how it is able to estimate users' locations used to target ads even when they've chosen to reject location tracking through their smartphone's operating system.
Facebook said that even when location tracking is turned off, it can deduce users' general locations from context clues like locations they tag in photos as well as their devices' IP addresses. While this data is not as precise as Facebook would collect with location tracking enabled, the company said it uses the information for several purposes, including alerting users when their accounts have been accessed in an unusual place and clamping down on the spread of false information. Facebook acknowledged it also targets ads based on the limited location information it receives when users turn off or limit tracking. Facebook doesn't allow users to turn off location-based ads, although it does allow users to block Facebook from collecting their precise location, the company wrote. Republican Senator Josh Hawley says the letter showed Facebook "admits it. Turn off 'location services' and they'll STILL track your location to make money (by sending you ads). There is no opting out. No control over your personal information. That's Big Tech. And that's why Congress needs to take action."
"I appreciate Facebook's attempts to inform users about their privacy choices. However, I am concerned that these efforts are insufficient and even misleading in light of how Facebook is actually treating user data," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.
Facebook said that even when location tracking is turned off, it can deduce users' general locations from context clues like locations they tag in photos as well as their devices' IP addresses. While this data is not as precise as Facebook would collect with location tracking enabled, the company said it uses the information for several purposes, including alerting users when their accounts have been accessed in an unusual place and clamping down on the spread of false information. Facebook acknowledged it also targets ads based on the limited location information it receives when users turn off or limit tracking. Facebook doesn't allow users to turn off location-based ads, although it does allow users to block Facebook from collecting their precise location, the company wrote. Republican Senator Josh Hawley says the letter showed Facebook "admits it. Turn off 'location services' and they'll STILL track your location to make money (by sending you ads). There is no opting out. No control over your personal information. That's Big Tech. And that's why Congress needs to take action."
"I appreciate Facebook's attempts to inform users about their privacy choices. However, I am concerned that these efforts are insufficient and even misleading in light of how Facebook is actually treating user data," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.
Supposedly this is ONLY with their app (Score:3)
Supposedly this is ONLY with their brain-dead, battery-killing app, not if you visit FB with a locked down browser.
the only winning move (Score:1, Funny)
Is not to play.
Re: the only winning move (Score:2)
And if you live in EU you could pull a GDPR on them.
what a wonderful app it would be (Score:1)
Kind of what the promise of Facebook was.
Zuck got greedy, and now we all suffer.
FB no on my phone (Score:4, Informative)
No Amazon stuff either
No Google stuff, my search engine is DuckDuckGo , mail is done via a VPN through home.
Ad blockers installed
etc.
Re: (Score:3)
Same here. I'll use Amazon's or Google's websites in a browser on my PC, but none of that crap gets loaded on my phone, period.
No Facebook
No LinkedIn
No Instagram
No Pinterest
No Reddit
etc etc etc
Re: (Score:2)
It's daft to have a Facebook app on your phone even if you don't care about privacy. Remember when their app deleted people's contacts in the process of sucking them up? You can't trust Facebook not to just fuck up your phone somehow.
Re: (Score:3)
Your carrier and OS are tracking you. :P
Re: (Score:2)
Utter and complete BULLSHIT (Score:2)
..the company said it uses the information for several purposes, including alerting users when their accounts have been accessed in an unusual place and clamping down on the spread of false information.
I can't remember the last time I heard such utter, complete, bald-faced lies and utter bullshit as this. It's an insult to people's intelligence, even as low as it is apparently with some people, that they actually are saying shit like this with a straight face.
Why are you or anyone still using Facebook anymore? Haven't you heard enough? Can't you see what it's become?
..although it does allow users to block Facebook from collecting their precise location
Yeah sure that's bullshit too I'm sure their 'app' collects anything it wants and as per usual Facebook is lying through their teeth abou
People use Facebook for Social Networking (Score:3)
Facebook is benefiting from our collapsing civilization rather then being the explicit cause of it.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I got halfway through your retarded comment before I had to stop and look up and to the left to see who could be so fucking idiotic.
I wasn't surprised when I saw your name sitting there.
Good to know I'm famous (Score:2)
Also, care to point out any way I'm wrong? Or just going to say nasty things and hope it papers over the reality of the situation? The latter works for Ben Shapiro and the like.
Still, that's the trouble with the left, being right doesn't win arguments...
Re: (Score:1)
Why are you or anyone still using Facebook anymore? Haven't you heard enough? Can't you see what it's become?
Many people believe that what the majority of people do is ok because the majority of people do it.
Re: (Score:2)
Since I am not a member (Score:2)
They have no excuse for tracking me at any time.
There's an opt-out (Score:2)
It's confusingly named, but the opt-out option is available in Facebook under the "Logout" link.
Re: There's an opt-out (Score:2)
Disabling third party cookies does.
Re: (Score:2)
Here's How Facebook Tracks You When You're Not On Facebook [buzzfeednews.com]
Here's how Facebook collects your data when you're logged out [cnet.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It should be a separate permission. There's no reason to lump SSID scanning in with location, when it comes to permissions. Android already behaves as if they were different by offering to let you use GPS, SSID, or both.
Facebook doesn't allow what?? (Score:2)
"Facebook doesn't allow users to turn off location-based ads"
That's just one more reason why I don't allow Facebook on any device I own.
Really concerned (Score:1)
Did anyone notice? He's careful to not state an action, policy or mechanism. This is a Republican being 'really concerned' but often the Republican party writes bills that state what the miscreant may do, thus preventing the states from enforcing accountability.