The social media giant, Facebook has revealed that it can determine where users are even if they choose-out of having their whereabouts tracked, The Express Tribune reported.
According to the details, Facebook in its letter sent to United States (US) senators explained the ways it can use to figure out where people are after they have selected not to share precise location data with the company.
The social media network, contended that knowing a user’s location has benefits ranging from showing ads for nearby shops to fighting hackers and battling misinformation.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley in a tweet said, “There is no opting out. No control over your personal information,” adding that, “That’s Big Tech. And that’s why Congress needs to take action.”
Facebook said that the clues for figuring out someone’s location include being tagged in a photo at a specific place or a check-in at a location such as at a restaurant during a dinner with friends or a hotel.
Along with location information shared in posts by users, their whereabouts can be noted with the help of devices connecting to the internet, which are given IP addresses. Those IP addresses include locations, although they are a a bit imprecise when it comes to mobile devices linking through telecom services that might only note a town or city.
The tech giant had recently said that it is ready for a data privacy law which will go into effect in its home state of California at the start of next year.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) will give internet users the right to see what data is being collected by the big tech companies and with whom it is shared.
