Recognition: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
- The messaging app Signal has posted a number of Instagram ads that have been blocked by Facebook.
- The ads clearly highlighted how much data Facebook has collected about its users.
Private messaging app Signal has seen a surge in adoption due to WhatsApp’s new terms and conditions, but it looks like the company is going on the offensive when it comes to Facebook’s platforms.
Signal created an ad on Instagram to highlight how much personal data the Facebook platforms collect for its users. “The ad would simply show some of the information that has been gathered about the viewer that the advertising platform is using,” Signal explained in a blog post (h / t: Gizmodo). In other words, the ad has been personalized for each person who sees it.
The ads all use the same format and display your job, relationship status, location, hobbies and other personal information. The results would have been quite startling, at least for some users, based on the company’s examples. Check them out below.
“Facebook is more than willing to sell visibility into people’s lives unless it’s meant to tell people how their data is being used,” the messaging team stated. The blog post also uploaded a screenshot that appears to confirm that the account has been disabled by Signal. You can view it below.
The news of Signal’s blatant advertising ban also comes after Apple and Facebook were embroiled in a data tracking battle. With Apple’s iOS 14.5 update, users can choose to be tracked by specific apps. Facebook then notifies users that tracking will help keep the services “free”. Indeed a new one Android Authority A survey found that most respondents are in favor of Google offering a similar feature.
We asked Facebook for a comment on Signal’s blocked ads and will update the story if we get a response. Are you surprised how much data Facebook collects on its different platforms? Let us know via the poll below.
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