Facebook really hopes iOS 13 won't scare you off using its location tracking
Apple's iOS 13 and iPadOS give users more control over their location data.
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iOS 13 and iPadOS have a few new privacy features.
Facebook appears to be trying to get ahead of a new iPhone privacy feature that gives you far more control over how often apps can access your location. The social network on Monday detailed the ways it uses location data and outlined how users can control location settings in Apple's upcoming iOS 13 for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Max Pro, and in Google's Android 10.
"Facebook is better with location," the social network's Paul McDonald wrote in a blog post. "Features like Find Wi-Fi and Nearby Friends use precise location even when you're not using the app to make sure that alerts and tools are accurate and personalized for you."
By the way, here's how you install iOS 13 on Sept. 19.
In June, Apple announced several features to protect people's privacy, including new iOS 13 restrictions on location tracking. Now when you give an app permission to access your location data, you can require the app to ask for permission each time. Apple is also making how often an app accesses your location more transparent through a periodic alert that includes a map of all the places an app has checked your location in the background. The addition of the map is eye-opening, and may prompt people to take privacy settings more seriously. Apple will also block location tracking from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Apple is expected to release iOS 13 later this month, but it's available in public beta now. The company on Tuesday will likely announce three new phone models, replacing the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR with the rumored iPhone 11, 11 Max/11 Pro and 11R. CNET will have a livestream before, during and after the event out of our New York office starting at 9 a.m. PT.
Google's newest mobile operating system, Android 10, also comes with improved privacy settings, including the option to restrict individual apps accessing location data. The social network said this could lead to Android and Facebook location settings being out of sync, but that it'll respect the more restrictive setting choice. Facebook said it'll begin to phase out its apps background location setting on Android 10 by reminding people to instead check their device's location settings.
Facebook said it can still understand users' locations using things like check-ins, events and information about their internet connection.
