Blackburn, Blumenthal Ask Meta to Shut Down Instagram Map Feature
Meta should shut down Instagram's map feature because of child-safety issues, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Friday in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
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The app’s sharing of real-time location data exposes children to pedophiles and online traffickers, the senators said: “Instagram’s new Map feature will share a user’s last active location with other individuals using the application. While Meta has argued that the feature is inactive unless users opt in to sharing their location, some consumers have reported that their location was automatically shared without their consent."
Meta said in a statement Monday: “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.”
Some consumer advocates raised transparency and safety concerns about the feature last week (see 2508080033).