Cybersecurity: Two Most Popular Apps Are Also Most ‘Data-Hungry’

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New Delhi: It turns out that Facebook and Instagram are the most “data-hungry” offenders. This was the result of analysed data of 100 popular apps by cybersecurity firm Surfshark. The research ranked apps based on the 32 data points outlined in Apple’s privacy policy, including sensitive information like payment details, browsing history, and exact location.

“As Meta owns both platforms, it’s unsurprising they share similar data collection strategies,” the researchers noted. Facebook and Instagram stood out for collecting all 32 data points, a feat unmatched by any other app in the study. While both apps collected all the listed data points, they only used seven for tracking purposes, including name, address, and phone number. The remaining data, though linked to user identity, wasn’t used for tracking, according to the report.

While X (formerly Twitter) collected less data overall, it was found to be the most eager to share it with third parties. Nearly half of the 22 data points it gathered were used for user tracking, raising concerns about its data-sharing practices. The research also revealed that, among the 10 social media and messaging apps analysed, all collected more data than the average app across various categories.

In a separate development, a US judge has ordered Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to personally participate in a deposition related to an ongoing lawsuit in Texas over the company’s controversial face recognition technology. This ruling could have significant implications for Meta’s data privacy practices and potential legal ramifications.