7th July 2023,Mumbai: Meta’s Threads app, the text-based version of Instagram, has made a significant impact in the social media landscape, being rolled out in over 100 countries. Positioned as a direct competitor to Twitter, the app has witnessed a surge in popularity with record-breaking downloads in a short span of time. However, along with its success, Threads has also faced scrutiny regarding its privacy policy and data collection practices. In order to make an informed comparison, let’s delve into the privacy policies and data collection methods of both Threads app and Twitter.
The Threads app collects a considerably larger number of individual data points compared to Twitter. Notably, Threads app gathers health data and other sensitive information from users. On the other hand, Twitter appears to collect a smaller amount of personal data in comparison. However, Twitter does employ ten data points to track users across the internet, a practice that the new Meta app claims to avoid entirely, as indicated by research conducted by Top10VPN, a VPN review website focusing on digital privacy and security.
Here are some noteworthy data points that Threads app collects but Twitter does not:
1. Financial Information: This includes credit information, payment information, and other financial details.
2. Contact Information: Threads app collects users’ names, physical addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information.
3. Health and Fitness Data: Threads app is capable of gathering health and fitness-related information.
4. User Content: Threads app can access users’ emails or text messages.
5. Search History
6. Sensitive Information: The Threads privacy policy mentions that users may choose to provide information on religious views, sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership.
However, it’s important to note that the sensitive information collected by Threads app seems to pertain to the content of posts made on the platform. Under this interpretation, Twitter should technically have a similar privacy label, but it currently lacks such a designation, according to the aforementioned research.
Turning our attention to Twitter, the platform discloses ten data points that it utilizes for tracking purposes. These data points include precise location, email address, browsing history, purchase history, user ID, and device ID. It should be noted that Threads app does collect some of these data points as well. However, the absence of any “Data Used To Track You” labels implies that Meta does not employ them in the same manner.
Simon Migliano, Head of Research at Top10VPN.com, commented on the data collection practices of Threads app by stating that while the app collects a significant amount of personal data, users of Instagram or Facebook are already sharing this data with Meta. He further noted that the permissions sought by Threads app are fairly standard for a social media platform. However, Migliano highlighted that the inability to delete a Threads account without deleting the associated Instagram account is deceptive and not made clear during the sign-up process.
Considering the significant user base of Instagram in India, privacy concerns surrounding Threads app become even more pertinent for the country. Mishi Choudhary, a technology lawyer and online civil rights activist, expressed her concerns, mentioning that India lacks a law to prohibit gatekeepers from combining users’ personal data across different platforms. As Threads app is intertwined with Instagram, data sharing is expected, and India’s current laws do not prevent this practice. Choudhary noted that the Digital Data Protection Bill, which was in draft form in late 2022, may not effectively address this issue either.
To protect their personal information while using Threads app, users can follow the recommendations provided by Simon Migliano:
1. In the Account Centre, users can reduce the duration for which Meta retains their search history. However, it is important to note that the default retention period of three days is still longer than ideal.
2. Users can manually clear their searches as frequently as they prefer to prevent the data from being used for marketing purposes.
3. It is advisable to avoid syncing contacts.
4. Deselecting all optional cookies can help reduce tracking.
5. Users should change their ad settings to decline “more relevant” ads, as these rely on personal data.
6. Users should be aware that the permissions granted for Instagram also apply to Threads app. Therefore, turning off Location Tracking for Instagram can prevent Threads from tracking user locations.
The Introduction of Meta’s Threads app has sparked both excitement and concerns regarding privacy and data collection. While Threads collects a broader range of individual data points, including sensitive information, Twitter focuses more on tracking user behavior across the internet. Users of both platforms should take proactive measures to protect their personal information and make informed decisions about their privacy settings.
-by Kashvi Gala