Instagram is the perfect application for people who love taking pictures. But have you ever think of any thought to the kinds of data Instagram gets from you and to what ends? After all, a lot of free-to-use services powered by targeted ads relies on data collection. We already know that Facebook bought Instagram and it adds another wrinkle to the data protection picture. Years ago, in wake if the recent Cambridge Analytica controversy, where a political data firm misused the private data for more than 50 million Facebook users, a lot of people are raising questions about the way Facebook’s partners and subsidiaries manage their information.
With that being said, Instagram has updated its policies about data use, replacing a 2013-era policy with one most recently updated in April 2018.
If you are wondering what Instagram requires from you. Please take a look at the list below:
- Names and passwords of account holders.
- Captured content, such as photos and videos.
- Data that links users to the photos they took, tagged or liked.
- Text message history, address book contacts or other similar personal information.
- Metadata on how people use the Instagram mobile app.
- Transactional data from Facebook products and services.
- Facial recognition data.
- Data on which devices are linked to which accounts.
- Geolocational data.
How Does Instagram Protect Our Data
With the information stated above, you might be wondering how Instagram is protecting our data. Since the Instagram platform is based on publicly sharing photos, a lot of content is public. Instagram warns users to be careful enough about sharing and communicating their content. To protect users further, however, the company is changing how data generated on their site and apps are kept ans shared.
Instagram has always had account settings that allow you to control who can see and access your data. There is a feature in Instagram that lets you put your account in private wherein users who are not following you will not be able to view your account. However, since we are living in a digital world where technology is advance, there are ways where you can view private instagram accounts but its legality, of course, is still debatable.
