Is there a new Big Brother on the block? The debate over Facebook's continued use of location-based tracking of users has created a sense of uncertainty among the tech world and the average citizen, who fear the Menlo Park-based company could be heading down a dangerous path.
Facebook announced on April 17 that it was to use new tracking information from users so they could find out where their friends were in real time, called Nearby Friends. However, a number of reports have surfaced in the intervening two days that suggest the company will use the new tracking information for marketing purposes.
Facebook has been hush on that idea, despite one exclusive report suggesting there was confirmation from the company on the matter.
Instead, the social network has focused on the new location finder and is promoting it as a way to see where friends are at the moment, despite the controversy surrounding privacy issues in the country presently.
"If you turn on Nearby Friends, you'll occasionally be notified when friends are nearby, so you can get in touch with them and meet up. For example, when you're headed to the movies, Nearby Friends will let you know if friends are nearby so you can see the movie together or meet up afterward," Facebook writes of the new concept.
It has, however, sparked a litany of frustration and concern that private information would be used for private means, including targeting advertisements based on your location. This has led to worries that Facebook is heading into a very gray area where users could be tracked without their knowledge by the company, or have that information sold to other corporations or governments.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been leading the charge on privacy issues and recently questioned the government's intentions over "silencing" Twitter and Yahoo over online security issues and companies abilities to inform their users on what information has gone where. This has led to worries that the government's hand in Internet companies could be growing.
"The federal government has an awesome array of tools and technologies in its investigative arsenal, and it often goes to great lengths to shield its tactics from outside scrutiny," the ACLU says in a statement on government interventions into Internet companies.
This idea of location finder could be used by government agencies to track individuals using their Facebook accounts, which is a concern that many users are beginning to have, especially following the scandal of NSA spying on Americans.
