Facebook Warns Developers from Using Data for Surveillance

Facebook Warns Developers from Using Data for Surveillance. In response to pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, Color of Change and the Center for Media Justice, Facebook revealed that it will clear up its developer policy. The company will make it clear that the policy explicitly prohibits the use of Facebook or Instagram data in surveillance tools. Developers want to use the data to monitor protesters and activists.

Facebook reveals that it has already cracked down on these monitoring platforms for violating current policies during the last few months. But the new approach apparently excludes any ambiguity about the company’s views.

Facebook Warns Developers from Using Data for Surveillance

Previously, Facebook’s Instagram unit and competitor Twitter also came under attack from privacy advocates. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) revealed in a report that police were using location data and other user information to spy on protesters.

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As a result the companies block out the data access of Geofeedia. That stated that it works with organizations to “leverage social media,” but Facebook policy had not explicitly barred such use of data in the future.

 “Our goal is to make our policy explicit.”

Rob Sherman, Facebook’s deputy chief privacy officer, said in a post on the social network on Monday.

“The modification would help build a community where people can feel safe making their voices heard.”

Sherman said.

 

ACLU said that the company has worked with over 500 law enforcement agencies. In October, Geofeedia Chief Executive Officer, Phil Harris said that the company was committed to privacy and would work to build on civil rights protections.

“Major social media platforms including Twitter and Alphabet Inc’s YouTube have taken action or implemented policies similar to Facebook’s.”

Said Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties policy director at the ACLU of Northern California.

Developers should reveal what they plan to do with Facebook data. Facebook also said that it conducts broad audits to make sure developers don’t misuse data.

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