Meta is facing renewed scrutiny for its privacy practices following the emergence of leaked documents detailing a secretive project. These documents reveal that Facebook’s app allegedly spied on Snapchat user traffic as part of a project known as “Project Ghostbusters.” Launched in 2016, the project aimed to intercept and decode communications between Snapchat’s servers and users in order to understand user behavior. The project’s name, “Ghostbusters,” was a nod to Snapchat’s ghost logo and hinted at its clandestine nature.
In 2016, Facebook launched a covert initiative known as “Project Ghostbusters.” The project’s goal was to intercept and decipher the communication between Snapchat’s servers and users, ostensibly to gain insights into user behavior and enhance Facebook’s competitive position against the growing popularity of Snapchat. The name “Project Ghostbusters” was a clever play on Snapchat’s ghost logo, suggesting its clandestine and secretive nature.
The California Federal Court recently disclosed these documents in the lawsuit involving Meta and its users. The documents also shed light on similar attempts by the company with Amazon and YouTube.
Facebook’s covert project was a component of its IAPP initiative (In-App Action Panel), designed to gain a competitive advantage by intercepting and decoding competitors’ traffic.
Unveiling Facebook’s Surveillance of Snapchat Users
The leaked documents included emails discussing the project, which were made public as part of the lawsuit. In an email, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s Chief Executive, noted, “When someone asks about Snapchat, the typical response is that because their traffic is encrypted, we lack analytics.” He also suggested, “Considering their rapid growth, it’s crucial to find a new method for obtaining reliable analytics. Maybe we should conduct panels or develop custom software. Please explore this.”
Several Facebook engineers proposed utilizing Onavo through “kits,” which could be installed on iOS and Android devices to intercept traffic, essentially constituting a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack.
Following the project’s success, an email declared, “We can now measure detailed in-app activity,” accomplished by “analyzing Snapchat analytics gathered from incentivized participants in Onavo’s research program.”
The specifics are perplexing, but this isn’t the first instance of Facebook engaging in such actions. Consider the Cambridge Analytica Scandal, where data from as many as 87 million users was harvested to influence the 2016 US presidential elections.
What are your views on Facebook’s surveillance practices? Do you continue to use Facebook or other Meta platforms? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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