Meta CEO's Order to Track Competitors' Encrypted Usage Revealed

Newly unsealed emails revealed Meta's CEO, formerly known as Facebook, instructed executives to find ways to track encrypted usage on competing apps like Snapchat. The directive, dating back to 2016, emerged as part of ongoing litigation accusing Meta of anticompetitive behavior. This revelation sheds light on Meta's efforts to obtain reliable analytics about Snapchat's growth and usage in the midst of its rapid expansion. The emails also uncovered the creation of a 'task force' within Onavo, known internally as the 'Ghostbusters project,' to intercept and decrypt encrypted traffic from rival apps. The use of Onavo to gain insights into how mobile users interacted with competitors' apps has been a focus of controversy. Facebook's creation of new software in 2016, which could intercept traffic for specific sub-domains and decrypt encrypted traffic, has raised concerns over privacy and competition. The emails also outlined Meta's use of third parties to recruit users to install the software, highlighting potential privacy implications and legal challenges. Additionally, Meta's actions to intercept rival app usage without disclosure have been cited in a lawsuit, alleging violations of wiretapping laws and antitrust regulations. The controversy surrounding Meta's efforts to track encrypted usage on rival platforms has triggered internal disagreement within the company, as not all leadership members expressed approval for such practices. This reveals a pivotal moment in Meta's history, unraveling the layers of controversy and ethical implications surrounding the company's competitive strategies. The long-standing tension between privacy concerns and data acquisition in the tech industry is once again brought to the forefront through this revelation.