The Secret Service has used a technology called Locate X which uses location data harvested from ordinary apps installed on phones. Because users agreed to an opaque terms of service page, the Secret Service believes it doesn't need a warrant.
They will justify what they want. The rules are made up, and the laws don't matter.
I've made my peace with the eventual gestapo knock on my door. If you haven't, just stop using social media entirely but it's probably to late if you can see this.
Even not having an account is enough I would guess (I'm no computer wizard). Even wizards screw up a spell now and again (thanks computer wizards for your community service, I do love gaming a shitton and lemmy is Hella rad)
IP addresses linked to threads opened, comments sections browsed can be used to create a profile by some dipshit AI programmed by some dipshit. Zero social media is the only way. Just don't look at it.
Agreeing to location services for the purpose of performing the apps intended use, is not the same as agreeing that the government can track your location on a whim. Where the fuck are the constitutional lawyers who fight this kind of egregious constitutional violation?
It shouldn't be though. Nothing a company gleans from your use of a product should be available for purchase by any third party. This should have been legislated two decades ago.
I didn't agree to shit. If I did agree it was probably because some company twisted my arm and didn't offer a more respectable service that doesn't gobble up every bit of data to resell possible. Probably through every mobile carrier.
My understanding is that individual cell location data is actually protected by some court case, that's why the pigs love big tech... they don't need a warrant, they got a guy on the inside processing their request based on "trust me bro, daddy sam needs this data"
Their all scamming. Because praise the almighty dollar. Its like making a decent product to rob the owner. Trojan scam practices. Vote with your wallet people.