Snapchat employees have been spying on users for years

In an application where privacy is used as a flag, it is ironic that the users themselves are spied on. Nothing could be further from the truth. At least that is what the report from the Motherboard publication states, which echoes the testimonies of former workers, current workers and different emails from Snapchat. The application that defended the ephemeral from the beginning has allowed its workers to spy on users' personal data.

It seems to be an internal tool created, mainly, to be able to resolve judicial requests related to the content of the application. That is, find sensitive information that can be used in a lawsuit or be claimed by the courts. In this way, private conversations and publications could be reviewed internally. The tool is called SnapLion, according to workers and cross-mails seen by Motherboard, and the problem lies in its abuse by Snapchat workers.

According to different sources, the SnapLion tool has been used by different internal departments of Snapchat. And, therefore, by workers who had little or nothing to do with the possible legal requirements of a case. Or that they were not dedicated to verifying that the content shared by users, even if ephemeral, respected the terms of use of the application.Basically, the tool, according to the same sources, was used by the workers to spy on the users of the application To learn sensitive data without any motivation beyond espionage .

What data has Snapchat spied on

According to Snapchat workers, SnapLion is intended to fight against abuse, bullying and spam within the app But what? What protects users from Snapchat workers? Apparently the tool has passed from one department to another within the company without any kind of brake. What has given rise to its abuse by different employees who, in principle, would not have to use it. All this to know different information and content of users of the social network.

Specifically, SnapLion is able to know the email addresses associated with a user account, or their phone number. But more worrisome is the possibility of knowing the location information of a user In addition, the tool has access to the metadata of user conversations, so, even if the content of the chats is not known, it would be known exactly with whom the spied users are conversing. It should not be forgotten that, in the application's user guide, it is also specified that user data and information can be retained, including stored content such as saved Memories or Snaps. Sensitive information that SnapLion, and the workers behind this tool, could have accessed for years.

More limited internal access

According to Snapchat, the company limits access to internal tools to its own employees. In this way, only those who have an active work in the strictly necessary cases can use SnapLion and other accesses. Of course, according to Motherboard's research, SnapLion was not as secure and limited as it should be a few years ago Although several workers have confirmed new protection barriers to access this tool, as well as to protect sensitive user information.

It is clear that in the world of technology back doors will continue to exist. Their main goal is to ensure that everything works as it should. Although barriers are necessary so that the workers themselves do not abuse them. Of course, something must be clear to users: everything that is not encrypted is likely to be seen by other people at some point.Inside or outside an application.