[emsy]

Let’s assume for a moment the story turns out to be true: would people stop using Instagram because of it?looking at the history of privacy violations and the market’s responds to it I doubt it. There is a minority of users who will feel rightfully violated in their privacy (imagine browsing instagram naked while possibly being ogled at by some creep at FB). The worst that will happen is that FB will be sanctioned to pay a laughably low fine. I think we need much harsher repercussions against these practices, up to barring them completely from operating.

[bogwog]

People still smoke even though everyone knows it's bad for you. Maybe like smoking we need a minimum age for social media that's actually enforced and heavily penalized?

[switch11]

Yes, actually people would

Many of the people who use Instagram are ones who stopped using Facebook due to privacy issues and their grandpa and grandma showing up

They didn't know Facebook owns Instagram

Facebook is stuck in this loop where it has to keep buying competitors because its own users lose faith and leave

If Instagram didn't sell to Facebook, Facebook would be screwed

Currently, FB has Instagram, Whatsapp and Messenger

By some special deal with the Government they are trying to nuke TikTok

If that doesn't work they are in trouble

Many of the newer companies that are growing won't sell to FB

(Tik Tok, Snapchat, Telegram, etc)

[devit]

A lot of people would probably deny camera permissions to Instagram (and upload by sharing from gallery if they upload content), and their reputation would take a significant hit (currently they aren't known to covertly gather any personal data beyond generic OS-provided statistics).

Also Instagram isn't really essential to communicate and learn about events in the way the main Facebook service is, so stopping to use it is highly feasible.

[robbintt]

Agreed. I just checked my setting and apparently did this "deny and post from camera roll" by default. I have no doubt I was just making a privacy conscious choice.

[kennywinker]

You can’t post instagram stories without giving both camera and microphone access. This is a significant leverage point for a lot of people.

[reaperducer]

would people stop using Instagram because of it?

Any responsible parent would make sure their young children didn't use it.

There is a minority of users who will feel rightfully violated in their privacy

So? Because they're in the minority their voices don't matter?

The worst that will happen is that FB will be sanctioned to pay a laughably low fine.

Sadly, you're spot-on with this one.

[paxys]

Of course people would stop using Instagram. A major app provably spying on you from your camera is an extremely big deal, and is something every non-tech user can easily understand.

The truth is though that as in ~100% of such sensationalist headlines there is nothing alarming in what the app is doing, which is why users don't care.

[hkai]

You are talking about repercussions, yet clearly there is no proof that Instagram was "spying" on anyone.

[not_really]

Blame has been placed on a bug, meaning you can safely assume there is irrefutable proof of camera access. (Why else would the claim of a bug need to be made?)

Spying or not, it's completely unacceptable.

[heimatau]

> would people stop using Instagram because of it?

Honestly, what other people do with their data/privacy concerns doesn't affect my life. So, if they are cool with that, that's on them.

For me (my family), we are fairly anti-technology at the home. 'Anti' in the respect that we actually enjoy the simple life and retirement for us is on a farm, off the grid. So, this behavior, for me, is the last straw. I will be removing IG within the next 12 months. (I won't get a FB,Whatsapp, etc)