Why Threads by Meta Raises Red Flags for Privacy Experts

What is Threads?

Threads is the latest app from the Meta Empire made by the Instagram team. In less than a week since its launch on July 5, 2023, it had attracted over 100 million user sign-ups.

It's a microblogging app which according to a Facebook news update, offers a “new way to share with text”. The format is very similar to Twitter (recently renamed X) with text-based posts, photos, and videos for real-time conversations.

While Threads may function like Twitter, it's powered by Instagram and resembles it in both aesthetics and navigation.

Basically, just imagine Twitter and Instagram had an app-baby and you've got the general idea.

How does Threads work?

To sign up for a Threads account, you have to first have an Instagram account. It will pull through your current Insta handle and password but then users can create a unique bio for their Threads account.

Thread users can create text posts with a 500-character limit or video content up to 5 minutes, just shy of double the limits on Twitter.

Being a mircroblogging app, Threads is all about public dialogues and doesn't have the ability for private messages, at least not yet anyway.

Additional features are being added as users give their feedback. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg has been inviting users to make their feature requests.

Image source: CNBC News

And it worked.

A “Following” button has since been added, and Threads users can now see posts from people they follow instead of the often less relevant “For you” feed.

Recent updates have also included changes that allow users to organize their “Activity” feed, use settings to allow people to see their liked posts, and the ability to translate posts.

It's still missing many features that Twitter/X users know and love, but as it's early days and with such an open invitation for feedback, changes are likely to keep happening.

Threads privacy concerns

Threads may have caused a flurry of excitement for social media lovers, but not everyone is so enthusiastic. Privacy experts have been voicing their concerns about the new app ever since its June launch.

The issue is that Threads, despite being feature-light at the moment, collects more data than other social media platforms. Much of this data is what could be considered sensitive personal information.

Amongst other data points, Threads has the ability to log a user's browsing and search history, geolocation, employment, health status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and trade union membership.

The majority of the data collected isn't even necessary for the app's basic function nor for any of the elective add-on features.

For privacy experts, this is a massive red flag.

Although Threads doesn't currently run ads, the amount of data being collected is a huge indication that it soon will. That, and the fact that big-name brands have already jumped on board, just lying in wait for the targeted advertising green light.

Meta's whole business model is built on collecting data and sharing it with third parties for a massive profit. So, it would be naive to think that Threads will be any different.

Another privacy problem is with the connection with Instagram. As we mentioned, to have a Threads account, you need an Instagram account. But if you want to delete your Threads account, then users beware.

You can “de-activate' the account, without affecting your Instagram account, but if you choose to delete it completely, then you'll also delete your Insta. This could potentially go against the “right to be forgotten” in state data protection laws, such as the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

For those who like to be anonymous on social media, the Threads/Instagram connection poses another problem.

Since your Threads will take your Insta-handle, you won't be able to effectively separate contacts for the two apps. If you want to be “anonymous” on Threads, you'll need to create a new burner Instagram account.

Threads vs. EU data protection laws

Although Threads was rolled out to 100 countries on the same day, an entire continent was missed out. Europe has some of the most stringent data protection regulations, and Threads with its data collecting practices goes far beyond what the EU regulators are comfortable with.

Meta is already in hot water in Europe having been struck with a whopping $1.3 billion fine from the Irish Data Protection Commission for GDPR violations, in particular for transferring EU user data to the US.

Meta is appealing the decision but it's not the first fine it's received from the EU, and it likely won't be the last. Until Meta can prove to the European Commission that Threads isn't going to repeat the same GDPR infringements, then it won't be allowed to operate in the EU market.

Threads pulling at your privacy

It looks very much like Threads is just another way for Meta to get their hands on even more user data than they already do. With the ongoing mass exodus from Twitter/X after Elon Musk's takeover and constant changes, it could be that Meta saw an opportunity. Just be careful you don't jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Read More: 6 Things You Should Never Share on Social Media