Facebook's VPN Spy Tactics on Social Media Activity

The recent unsealing of court documents has revealed that Meta, formerly known as Facebook, had launched a project called "Project Ghostbusters" in 2016 to intercept and decrypt analytics traffic from Snapchat, YouTube and Amazon. The aim was to use this information for competitive decision-making purposes.  

These revelations are part of an ongoing class-action antitrust lawsuit against Meta. According to the legal documents, the controversial program was initiated at the request of Mark Zuckerberg himself. 

At present, with its family of apps including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger under its umbrella; Meta enjoys a significant command over social media platforms’ visits in the U.S., boasting nearly four billion monthly active users as per data till December 2023. 

However, it appears that back in 2016 when social media competition started heating up with emerging players like Snapchat gaining momentum; Facebook felt an urgent need to gather more user-data beyond what they were already amassing via their own platforms. 

Zuckerberg’s email titled “Snapchat Analytics” sent out to three executives indicates his concern about not having enough intelligence on Snapchat due its encrypted traffic. He stressed upon devising new methods for obtaining reliable analytics about them. 

In response Javier Olivan (current COO), suggested developing software or incentivizing users for installing such software capable of gathering required data. 

This led to launching ‘Facebook Research Project’ where participants were paid up-to $20 monthly for installing a tracking app which was later shut down following outcry over privacy concerns in 2019. 

Within hours after receiving Zuckerberg’s directive email regarding Snapchat's analytic interception; a task force comprising executives and attorneys was assembled who then expanded their scope towards YouTube and Amazon too.  

Despite these damning allegations backed by documented evidence; A spokesperson from Meta dismissed all claims stating them as baseless while emphasizing that these issues have been previously reported on years ago making them irrelevant now. 

Nevertheless Jason Kint CEO Digital Content Next pointed out that the recently unsealed documents contain previously redacted information revealing new insights into the case. According to him, these details are contradictory to Meta's dismissive statement.  

Included in this newly revealed data is an allegation that even Meta's top-most executives had reservations about the project considering it a legal and technical nightmare with potential security risks. 

Meta however continues to defend their stance by refuting any violation of Wiretap Act which prohibits non consensual interception of information; asserting they had obtained user-consent for participation in the project. 

They further claim Snap’s inability to prove whether any of Meta’s research provided them with a competitive advantage thereby underscoring lack of substantial basis behind these allegations. 

As we await further developments on this lawsuit; one thing is clear - tech giants’ incessant hunger for user-data and consequential privacy concerns are not going away anytime soon.