You may have gotten a notification that Facebook has updated its Terms and Conditions, but how many people actually take the time to read through what it really means?
The new update will come into effect on January 1
st, 2015, seeing Facebook increase the level of data they collect and store on each individual using their site.
The new T&Cs outline how the social network will now track GPS data on every user through all their devices, including smartphone and tablets. They also outline how there will be no opportunity to opt out – meaning you need to delete and leave Facebook if you want to keep your whereabouts private.
The GPS will be used to allow Facebook to target advertising, see which of your friends are nearby, as well as collect information on all apps, webpages and sites you visit while logged in through Facebook:
Image via Facebook
The network has responded to concerns over privacy, with a spokesman saying:
“We only keep it until it is no longer useful to provide you services, like keeping your GPS coordinates to send you relevant notifications.”
So what are your options to control your privacy?
Unlike your account settings for photos and posts, you can’t limit the access to your GPS information and Facebook will still collect your data.
Have the app, but don’t plan on using it?
The news T&Cs also allow the app to record your data whether or not you are actively using it on your phone.
Tech specialists suggest for those who don’t want to have personal information such as wifi, phone numbers, or home locations logged, to instead access the site through a public PC, which will only locate the IP of the public domain to your account.
Or you could give up Facebook altogether. Although we don’t see that one happening either.