this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2025
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Privacy
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I think this would warrant to get all websites using the facebook pixel on safe browsing lists and AV databases as infected with malware.
Maybe then the pressure on meta would be big enough to stop this shit, if all websites stopped to not use that anymore.
Btw, does anyone know if the localhost tracking is implemented in Whatsapp as well, or just FB and Instagram?
antiviruses are a scam. they were never flagging actual spyware as such
WhatsApp is owned by Meta, so you should expect that they will do this soon enough if they aren't doing it already.
I would bet a ton of money on WhatsApp being a spy machine in a way people don’t know yet. Their bullshit of end to end encryption and privacy while being a free app is undoubtedly some ruse to squeeze data out of people. There isn’t a fucking doubt in my mind.
Facebook is owning and operating a free and private messaging service? To what end? Yeah, nah. Not fuckin buying it.
My guess is that in some form they track contacts and link clicks. I genuinely don't think they're reading messages, but I think they do know eg that Bob is someone that likes to send people links and that there are 5 people that always open those links. So they may have directed model of linked topics between people.
Even if this isn't true though, owning WhatsApp probably gives Meta a lot of culture impact in a similar way to Google and Gmail. The fact that they could create their Meta AI model and put it in front of like a billion people overnight won't be lost on shareholders.
But google and Gmail are massive spying machines. They’re not just cultural impact loss leaders.
Oh sorry, I'm not denying that at all. I was only drawing on the comparison of Gmail being pretty ubiquitous like WhatsApp is.
Yeah, I mean outside the US WhatsApp is basically texting for everyone I’ve met. It’s definitely accomplished that. I just can’t imagine something that massive not being used to spy. Especially given that it’s free. I don’t imagine they’re above reading messages. Because all of that server power and access worldwide, they’re definitely prying somehow. Like we are just now finding out they’ve been circumventing VPNs and all methods to block their cookies? It’s literally impossible they’re not prying data out of WhatsApp users.