Apple’s iOS 14 Catches Facebook Spying on Millions through the Camera
Facebook does not have a good record when it comes to privacy. You would think they would be better after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Apple’s newest version of iOS (iOS 14) has a cool feature that turns on a little light at the top of your apple device to show if the camera or mic is active.
before this, we could only hope that FaceBook/Instagram was not spying on you while you were not using their app. But with Apple's newest update Facebook has been allegedly exposed to do just that. Facebook is still trying to cheat the system and spy on users in order to advertise to you with better precision.
Apple insiders put it very well
Back in July, an iOS 14 privacy feature revealed that Instagram appeared to be activating the iPhone camera and microphone even when they weren’t in use. The specific feature was an indicator dot that showed up when the camera wasn’t active, such as when a user was scrolling the feeds.
At the time, Facebook said that the behavior was unintentional and caused by a bug that was quickly fixed. In the complaint, lodged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, plaintiff Brittany Conditi contends that it wasn’t.
“Instagram is constantly accessing users’ smartphone camera feature while the app is open and monitors users without permission, i.e., when users are not interacting with Instagram’s camera feature,” the lawsuit alleges.
The complaint contends that Facebook is surveilling users to collect “lucrative and valuable data on its users that it would not otherwise have access to.”
That alleged spying, it continues, allowed Facebook to “monitor users’ most intimate moments, including those in the privacy of their own homes, in addition to collecting valuable insight and market research on its users.”
“Defendants abused their ability to access users’ smartphone cameras, and committed egregious privacy violations, for one specific reason: to increase their advertising revenue. By obtaining extremely private and intimate personal data on their users, including in the privacy of their own home, Defendants are able to target users more than ever before,” the complaint reads.
Even your most intimate or private moments are not safe from Facebook.
My Personal Thoughts and Response
Like you, I do not like the idea of being spied on, especially in my own home from my own devices.
Just imagine what data Facebook has on you. Those times you thought you were alone, but your phone was watching and sending that to Facebook servers. Even your most intimate or private moments are not safe from Facebook.
Why do we choose to use a service that will spy on you in private and lie to you about it? Because Facebook is convenient and gives us entertainment for “free”.
Dear reader, Facebook is NOT FREE. It may not cost Cash out of your pocket, but they are selling your data. no matter what they can get from you, they will find a way to monetize your body and voice without your permission or knowledge.
Either pay for a product or you are the product.
I myself deleted my Facebook Apps off my phone. I still have my account, but I access that through the web browser on a computer that cannot follow me around. You don’t need to cut cold turkey, But it is a good idea to consider the cost of having these tech giants in your pocket watching your every move and making money off you.
I do hope that Facebook gets more than a slap on the wrist for this invasion of privacy. They need to answer for their crimes against you and everyone one they have stolen video and audio from for monitory gain.
Thank you!
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