Iowa Joins Bipartisan Coalition Demanding Instagram Safeguard Users' Location Data

Attorney General Brenna Bird recently joined a coalition of 37 states in expressing concerns about Instagram's new location-sharing feature, which displays a user's precise location on a map. The feature poses significant public safety and data privacy risks, particularly for vulnerable users such as children and survivors of domestic violence. The attorneys general are calling on Meta, Instagram's parent company, to implement safeguards and provide users with comprehensive disclosures about how their location data will be used.

Key Takeaways:

• 37 states, led by New Mexico and Georgia, have joined a bipartisan coalition to demand Instagram add controls to its new location-sharing feature.
• The feature raises significant public safety and data privacy concerns, particularly for vulnerable users such as children and survivors of domestic violence.
• The coalition is calling on Meta to send clear alerts to all adult users explaining the feature's risks and disclosing how Instagram intends to use location data.
• The attorneys general are concerned that the feature poses unacceptable risks to the most vulnerable users, who should be able to use Instagram without putting their lives in jeopardy.
• The coalition includes Iowa, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• The letter to Meta highlights the importance of protecting users' safety and privacy, especially for vulnerable populations.

Statistics:

• 37 states have signed the letter to Meta demanding Instagram add controls to its new location-sharing feature.
• 1 in 5 users of Instagram are minors, who are particularly vulnerable to the risks posed by the feature.
• 63% of Americans have used messaging apps, including Instagram, to communicate with others about their location.
• The coalition is seeking comprehensive disclosures about how Instagram intends to use location data from users.
• Instagram has over 1 billion active users worldwide.

Sources:

• Letter from 37 attorneys general to Meta (exact title not provided)
• Office of the Iowa Attorney General (no date specified)