Instagram's map feature spurs user backlash over geolocation privacy concerns

CNBC

2 days ago

The launch of an Instagram feature that details users' geolocation data illicited backlash from social media users on Thursday.
Meta debuted the Instagram Map tool on Wednesday, pitching the feature as way to "stay up-to-date with friends" by letting users share their "last active location." The tool is akin to Snapchat's Snap Map feature that lets people see where their friends are posting from.
Although Meta said in a blog post that the feature's "location sharing is off unless you opt in," several social media users said in posts that they were worried that was not the case.
"I can't believe Instagram launched a map feature that exposes everyone's location without any warning," said one user who posted on Threads, Meta's micro-blogging service.
Another Threads user said they were concerned that bad actors could exploit the map feature by spying on others.
"Instagram randomly updating their app to include a maps feature without actually alerting people is so incredibly dangerous to anyone who has a restraining order and actively making sure their abuser can't stalk their location online…Why," said the user in a Threads post.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri responded to the complaints on Threads, disputing the notion that the map feature is exposing people's locations against their will.
"We're double checking everything, but so far it looks mostly like people are confused and assume that, because they can see themselves on the map when they open, other people can see them too," Mosseri wrote on Thursday. "We're still checking everything though to make sure nobody shares location without explicitly deciding to do so, which, by the way, requires a double consent by design (we ask you to confirm after you say you want to share)."
Still, some Instagram users claimed that that their locations were being shared despite not opting in to using the map feature.
"Mine was set to on and shared with everyone in the app," said a user in a Threads post. "My location settings on my phone for IG were set to never. So it was not automatically turned off for me.
A Meta spokesperson reiterated Mosseri's comments in a statement and said "Instagram Map is off by default, and your live location is never shared unless you choose to turn it on.""If you do, only people you follow back — or a private, custom list you select — can see your location," the spokesperson said.