Uncovering Meta’s Surveillance: How Deep Does the Rabbit Hole Go?

Meta’s Surveillance Rabbit Hole: How Deep Does It Go?

In a recent study conducted by Consumer Reports, the extent of Meta’s surveillance practices was revealed to be truly staggering. The study looked at the Facebook archives of 709 volunteers to see how many companies were tracking data and sending it to Meta. The results were shocking, to say the least.

On average, each volunteer had data sent to Meta by a whopping 2,230 companies. Some participants had their details shared by over 7,000 organizations. This level of data sharing is truly mind-boggling and raises serious concerns about privacy and data security.

One of the top offenders identified in the study was a San Francisco-based data broker called LiveRamp, which had insights on a staggering 96% of participants. Other well-known companies such as Walmart, Macy’s, Home Depot, Experian, Neustar, Etsy, PayPal, and Amazon were also found to be among the top 100 companies gathering data for Meta.

The study also uncovered the use of hidden tracking methods such as server-to-server tracking and tracking pixels. These methods allow Meta to collect a wide range of personal data from users, including their online activities and interactions.

To see which companies have been sharing your information with Meta, users can follow a few simple steps on Facebook. By accessing the Accounts Center and Your information and permissions settings, users can view recent connections between third-party businesses and choose to clear their activity or disconnect to prevent future sharing.

The study’s findings highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way companies handle user data. As more and more information is collected and shared online, it is essential for users to be aware of how their data is being used and take steps to protect their privacy.