New Mexico Attorney General Joins Nationwide Fight Against Instagram’s Location-Sharing Feature
Concerns mount over potential for stalking and exploitation as 37 attorneys general demand greater user control.
Santa Fe,N.M. – New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez has joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 state attorneys general in raising serious concerns about a new feature on Instagram that allows users, including minors, to share their real-time location.The escalating controversy centers on the potential for the feature to be exploited by stalkers and abusers, prompting a formal letter demanding greater safety measures from the social media giant.
The attorneys general’s letter explicitly states that the functionality, “if not carefully controlled, poses clear risks of stalking, harassment, and other forms of exploitation.” This concern is particularly acute given the prevalence of domestic violence and stalking in the United States. According to experts, the ability to track someone’s location in real-time dramatically increases the risk for victims.
“Most studies have shown that about 85% of all women who are murdered in the United States are murdered by the man who is stalking them,” explained Paul szych, a retired police commander and crime expert with eight years of experience in the Albuquerque Police Department’s domestic violence and stalking unit, having worked on over 1,800 cases. “That man is usually somebody who is known to them from intimate partner relationships.”
Szych emphasized the danger this new feature presents, stating, “The only thing that makes stalking easier is being able to track somebody in real time.” He further warned that even if a user hasn’t explicitly enabled location sharing, their children could inadvertently allow tracking through their own accounts.
While instagram has stated that the location-sharing feature is turned off by default, authorities are urging users to verify their settings. To disable location sharing, users should:
- Navigate to their profile.
- Select “Settings and Privacy,” then “Location Sharing.”
- Choose “No one” to wholly disable the feature.
Users can also enhance their privacy by going to their phone’s settings,selecting “privacy and Security,” then “Location Services,” scrolling to Instagram,and selecting “Never.”
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, responded to the attorneys general’s concerns with a statement asserting that real-time location features “should of course be intentionally built and give users control.” The company highlighted that Instagram Maps is designed with this in mind, being off by default, providing users with notifications explaining the feature, and allowing them to disable it at any time. Furthermore, Meta stated that parents receive notifications if their teen starts using the feature and can block access.
Despite these assurances, law enforcement officials remain vigilant. The potential for misuse is significant, and proactive measures are crucial to protect vulnerable individuals. The ongoing debate underscores the complex challenges of balancing innovation with user safety in the rapidly evolving landscape of social media.
