Meta’s Threads sparks privacy controversy ahead of its official launch

Meta’s Twitter rival, Threads, an Instagram app, is currently listed on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, hinting at an imminent launch.

However, just ahead of the official announcement, the upcoming micro-blogging platform has sparked privacy controversy with its privacy policy.

The official listing on Apple App Store reveals that Meta’s Threads may collect data on health, fitness, finances, contacts, browsing history, usage, location, search history, identifiers, and other sensitive information.

Apple introduced privacy labels in 2020, requiring all app publishers to disclose the information they collect. Apple then publishes this information in a new label format that’s easy to understand.

This feature by Apple provides users with a clear picture of the amount of data an app might collect. Privacy labels are available across Apple products and services, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

While this is not unusual for social media apps to collect personal data. In fact, even Twitter collects a comparable amount of user data just as Threads, except for health and fitness-related information.

According to the App Store listing, Instagram’s Threads will launch on July 6 for iPhones.

Users will be able to log in using their Instagram handle, follow other users, create threads, reshare posts, and engage in microblogging, similar to what one can do on Twitter.

The listing also suggests that Threads will be accessible to anyone over 12 years of age and will be available in multiple languages, including English and Hindi, at launch.