You’ll want to turn off this new app setting.

Facebook is doubling down on tracking your behavior, despite the efforts of regulators worldwide. Its new Link History app feature is yet another AdTech privacy dark pattern. Meanwhile, Meta’s Mister Zuckerberg pretends it’s all for the good of Facebook users.

Apparently, it will “improve your ads.” In today’s SB Blogwatch, we eschew techbro doublespeke.

Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: United State of Pop 2023.

How Stupid Does He Think We Are?

What’s the craic? Thomas Germain reports—“Facebook’s New Way to Track the Websites You Visit”:

“Keylogging JavaScript”
A new “Link History” setting … creates a special repository of all the links you click on in the Facebook mobile app. Users can opt-out, but Link History is turned on by default. [It] might give users an illusion of privacy that Meta isn’t offering.
…
This is a privacy improvement in some ways, but the setting raises more questions than it answers. Meta has always kept track of the links you click on, and this is the first time users have had any visibility or control. … In other words, Meta is just asking users for permission for … tracking that it’s been using for over a decade.
…
Meta injects special “keylogging” JavaScript onto the website you’re visiting that allows the company to monitor everything you type and tap. [And] millions of companies add a tracking tool called the “Meta Pixel” to their websites, [which] sends Meta details about your activity when you’re not using … Facebook or Instagram.

Good grief. Nick Farrell complains that it “tracks your every click”:

“Zuckerberg’s glorious empire”
The firm sells Link History as a handy tool for users with browsing activity saved in one place rather than being another fun way for Facebook to spy on your behaviour. Facebook says that with the new setting, you’ll ‘never lose a link again,’ something we have never noticed as a problem. … There are several ways this setting might give users a false sense of privacy that Meta isn’t offering.
…
The setting only affects Meta’s record of the fact that you clicked a link in the first place. Also, Meta links everything you do on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and its other products. Unlike some of Facebook’s other privacy settings, Link History doesn’t say it affects any of Meta’s other apps, leaving you with the data harvesting status quo on other parts of Mark Zuckerberg’s glorious empire.

What’s behind this? Ben Lovejoy contextualizes thuswise—“Facebook data-gathering tool”:

“Business model is under threat”
As Meta faces increasing legal scrutiny over Facebook data-gathering to serve personalized ads, its latest tactic is to claim that a feature is really intended to help users. … Meta has been facing a growing legal problem. The company makes most of its money from personalized ads, which of course rely on sucking up as much personal data as possible.
…
But that business model is under threat from EU legislation, which requires people to be given the choice about whether or not to have their personal data used in that way. Meta’s data-gathering is also under scrutiny by other countries.

ELI5? thegarbz explains like we’re five:

Clicking a link in the Facebook app is cancer. Facebook has such capture on its users that it bundles its own browser. … It doesn’t matter if you run Firefox Mobile with noscript, adblock, and a million other tools to help stop tracking—when you click on a link in Facebook, it opens … within Facebook.

We’re galloping over the privacy precipice. Jason Kint pulls on the reins:

Woah. This is a huge deal, demands tech press attention. … Facebook is going to start tracking web activity for users who have turned off “Off-Facebook Activity.” … If Facebook moves forward, the FTC should be ready with (another) inquiry.
…
Facebook needs a way to opt users back in to tracking, and dodge emerging law (e.g., CO, CA) so it appears they’re rolling out a “new feature” that allows them to claim the rights to track users. … Meta is a desperate surveillance capitalist with much of its 97% in revenues and profits jeopardized by … privacy rights.

What can you tell our non-technical friends? u/boydengougesr has a go:

Whoops … Facebook is at it again. They just can’t resist tracking our every move.
…
Better watch out for those sneaky web cookies and trackers, folks! Privacy is a myth on social media.

But blfr won’t worry:

Between Facebook’s (and its users) aging out, Instagram quickly turning into yestermonth’s TikTok, and Threads going nowhere, it has never been this easy to avoid Facebook/Meta/Zuckerberg. Happy 2024!
…
Zuck is … not pivoting to owning the metaverse (lol) and we won’t be his virtual tenants. … For better or worse (ok, worse), Twitter is the current intellectual trend-setter. … Many a YouTuber/podcaster/academic/politician are scrolling through hot takes as we speak. The cultural power of Twitter vastly outweighs its raw number of users.

Meanwhile, drinkypoo eyerolls furiously:

Is anyone here dumb enough to let Facebook’s app run on their phone after the **** their apps have done in the past? If so, turn in your geek card immediately.

And Finally:

Another of these, sorry (but this one’s only 3’25 long)

Previously in And Finally

You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi, @richij or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.

Image sauce: DonkeyHotey (cc:by; leveled and cropped)