Alabama AG Advocates for Instagram Privacy Enhancements

Recently, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined forces with 37 other attorneys general to push Instagram for improved privacy protections for its users in the United States.

The group is urging the social media platform to revise its new location-sharing feature. Marshall pointed out that location data is among the most sensitive types of information collected today. Yet, it is frequently shared by platforms without users fully grasping the implications, he noted. “This isn’t just about data; it’s about real people facing real risks,” he stated.

In a letter directed to Instagram’s Principal Adam Mosseri, Marshall expressed grave concerns regarding public safety and data privacy stemming from this feature, which lets users share their precise location on a map. The coalition underscored the increased danger for at-risk groups, such as children and survivors of domestic abuse, highlighting how these tools could potentially be misused by predators and stalkers.

Marshall remarked, “As a parent and a civil servant, I find it unacceptable that platforms like Instagram often prioritize profits at the expense of American safety and privacy.” He stressed that these companies must be held accountable for past actions and mandated to implement vital safeguards to protect their users.

The Attorney General urged Meta and Instagram to place user safety above the desire for new features, arguing that taking protective measures would allow individuals to make informed decisions about whether or not to share their location.

According to the letter, this new feature enables users to share detailed, real-time location data through Instagram’s map interface. This raises significant concerns related to stalking and harassment, as it expands the amount of personal information Instagram gathers and shares.

The coalition’s letter includes specific requests for Instagram:

• Ensure minors cannot activate the location-sharing feature.
• Provide clear alerts to all adult users, detailing the feature, associated risks, and how location data is utilized.
• Allow users to disable location-sharing at any time, ensuring easy access to controls for those who opt in.