With a simple Chrome extension that grabs location data from Facebook Messenger you can rapidly plot your friends’ locations on a map.

The data is retrieved from messages sent with location sharing enabled. That usually means from mobile devices, as it’s on by default in the iOS and Android apps.

Due to overwhelming response (/outrage) to the extension the developers mapping API limit was hit… so while it'll still show the people, the map won't display. Unless you get it from github and use your own API key…. which I did… and I was able to pull location information for an alarming number of friends on Facebook. I'm talking like tracking them from work, to home, to a shopping center, etc.

Facebook just emits the the latitude and longitude attached to messages right to your browser. Why? Who knows… Facebook Messenger for mobile shares location data like this by default, without making it clear what that actually means.

Don't want Facebook sharing your location anymore?
* Android: Open the Messenger app -> tap the menu icon -> Settings > Location Services and uncheck the box that enables location services for the app

* iOS: Open Settings > Location Services and turn location off for Facebook Messenger.

+CNET has a good breakdown of how to do all of this: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-prevent-facebook-messenger-from-sharing-your-location/

The Chrome extension can be found here: https://goo.gl/rRw3i9

The blog post by the developer can be found here: https://medium.com/@arankhanna/stalking-your-friends-with-facebook-messenger-9da8820bd27d

Does this count as or post since Facebook just keeps on fucking up privacy issues?

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