Report: Facebook Monitors And Tracks Users It Deems a Threat

Facebook’s bread and butter is collecting user data, so it’s no surprise the company has the capability to track us wherever we go. However, a new report from CNBC spells out just how far Facebook is willing to go to use this tool if it thinks it’s facing a threat. According to the report, Facebook received a threat from a user in early 2018 against one of its offices in Europe. The company pulled the user’s data to discover his location, then informed law enforcement officials and directed its own security to be on alert. The CNBC report also revealed that Facebook keeps a so-called “BOLO” list — be on the lookout — that consists of hundreds of users who the company deems a security risk. This includes many former employees and contractors who were placed on the list for no specific reason. Of course, Facebook says its ability to track users follows every law, as well as the guidelines it has set for itself. “We have strict processes designed to protect people’s privacy and adhere to all data privacy laws,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. “In cases where there is a credible threat of physical violence against a Facebook employee, we use a combination of publicly available data and industry-standard practices to assess their physical proximity to an at-risk employee or Facebook location.” Whether or not this snooping is justified, these revelations are not a good look for a company already accused of overstepping its bounds when it comes to user privacy.

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