Illinois Attorney General Urges Instagram to Prioritize User Safety over Location-Sharing Feature

Strategic Insights -

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general, has written to Instagram expressing concerns about its newly implemented location-sharing feature. The letter, sent to Instagram as part of a coalition with other states, highlights the dangers of the feature, particularly for vulnerable users such as children and survivors of domestic violence. The attorneys general are urging Instagram to make changes to prevent predators and stalkers from exploiting the feature, and to prioritize user safety over product novelty.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coalition of 37 attorneys general, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, is urging Instagram to make changes to its location-sharing feature, citing public safety and data privacy concerns.
  • The feature allows users' precise locations to be displayed on a map, which can be exploited by predators and stalkers, putting vulnerable users such as children and survivors of domestic violence at risk.
  • The attorneys general are calling on Instagram to ensure that minors cannot enable location-sharing features, to provide clear alerts to adult users explaining the feature and its risks, and to provide a simple control that allows adults to opt out of location sharing.
  • The coalition is stressing that Instagram must prioritize user safety over product novelty and that implementing these measures will protect user privacy while allowing informed adults to choose whether to share their location.
  • The letter was joined by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, and 31 other states.

Statistics:

  • 37 attorneys general, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, are part of the coalition urging Instagram to make changes to its location-sharing feature.
  • The feature has been implemented by Instagram, despite concerns about its potential for exploitation by predators and stalkers.
  • 30 states have joined Illinois in urging Instagram to prioritize user safety over product novelty.
  • Instagram's location-sharing feature can be deactivated by adults who choose to opt out, but is enabled by default on minors' accounts.

Sources:

  • Illinois Attorney General's Office
  • Letter to Instagram from Attorney General Kwame Raoul and bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general (no specific date)