Facebook has published a blog post in an attempt to forewarn users as to what to expect when Apple’s new iOS 13 location data alerts mean for users of its mobile app.
The social network is attempting to address possible privacy-related questions that might arise once the alerts begin appearing following the public release of iOS 13.
Apple has changed the privacy features in its upcoming iOS 13 mobile operating system to offer a more granular view of how third-party apps (like Facebook) access a user’s location information.
The Facebook blog post, entitled “Understanding Updates to Your Device’s Location Settings,” highlights how new pop-up notifications will alert users anytime an app is using their location in the background, even offering up a map of the location data the app has tracked. The alerts are designed to make users aware of how often apps track them, and why they do so.
While iOS 12 offered users the option to allow apps to location information “Always,” “While Using the App” or “Never,” iOS 13 adds an additional “Allow Once” option for permitting one-time only access.
The social network explains how it uses its users’ location data:
It powers features like check-ins and makes planning events easier. It helps improve ads and keep you and the Facebook community safe. Features like Find Wi-Fi and Nearby Friends use precise location even when you’re not using the app to make sure that alerts and tools are accurate and personalized for you.
Most users already know that when it comes to Facebook, the product they’re selling is their users’ personal info, as it harvests large amounts of data about all of its users. However, Facebook is clearly concerned that users will be alarmed once the location alerts start popping up on their devices following their updating their device to iOS 13.
(Via MacRumors)
