26.06.2025 13:32:00
Дата публикации
In 2025, researchers uncovered a new method of user surveillance employed by Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram). The company reportedly bypassed user protections—like incognito mode or IP masking—to monitor online behavior.
Meta embedded a tracking code, known as the “Meta Pixel,” into websites. This pixel collected user data: what pages they viewed, what they clicked on, and what they typed. It's estimated that this code is embedded in around 20% of the world’s most-visited websites.
Even more concerning, Meta reportedly linked this code to its mobile apps, allowing Facebook and Instagram to access user activity—even when no content was posted—by bypassing Android’s built-in safeguards.
All of this occurred silently, without user or website owner awareness. Once exposed, Meta paused this practice—but experts warn there's no guarantee it won't resume.
This case illustrates how corporations exploit technical loopholes for advertising profits, said the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). It’s not what you read that matters to them—it’s how your behavior can be monetized through “personalized” ads.
To protect yourself, experts recommend:
– Using privacy-focused browsers (e.g., Brave, DuckDuckGo, or Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection);
– Opening links in an external browser instead of inside Facebook or Instagram apps;
– Uninstalling apps you don’t use regularly;
– Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) and avoiding personal details in passwords.
You can also install the Privacy Badger extension on desktop browsers—it automatically blocks trackers.
Meta makes billions by knowing as much as possible about its users, experts say. Your best defense is reducing your digital footprint and demanding that companies comply with data privacy laws.
“Privacy online shouldn’t be a luxury for experts—it’s a right for everyone,” concludes the EFF.
Meta embedded a tracking code, known as the “Meta Pixel,” into websites. This pixel collected user data: what pages they viewed, what they clicked on, and what they typed. It's estimated that this code is embedded in around 20% of the world’s most-visited websites.
Even more concerning, Meta reportedly linked this code to its mobile apps, allowing Facebook and Instagram to access user activity—even when no content was posted—by bypassing Android’s built-in safeguards.
All of this occurred silently, without user or website owner awareness. Once exposed, Meta paused this practice—but experts warn there's no guarantee it won't resume.
This case illustrates how corporations exploit technical loopholes for advertising profits, said the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). It’s not what you read that matters to them—it’s how your behavior can be monetized through “personalized” ads.
To protect yourself, experts recommend:
– Using privacy-focused browsers (e.g., Brave, DuckDuckGo, or Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection);
– Opening links in an external browser instead of inside Facebook or Instagram apps;
– Uninstalling apps you don’t use regularly;
– Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) and avoiding personal details in passwords.
You can also install the Privacy Badger extension on desktop browsers—it automatically blocks trackers.
Meta makes billions by knowing as much as possible about its users, experts say. Your best defense is reducing your digital footprint and demanding that companies comply with data privacy laws.
“Privacy online shouldn’t be a luxury for experts—it’s a right for everyone,” concludes the EFF.
