Facebook has a spotty history when it comes to digital privacy,ebony so naturally it's getting into the street level maps game.
Swedish mapping startup Mapillary announced in a company blog post on Thursday it had been acquired by Facebook. Mapillary CEO Jan Erik Solem didn't give any financial details about the acquisition, but noted that things would not change much for Mapillary users, at least in the short term.
In case you haven't heard of Mapillary, it solicits photo uploads from regular folks in order to build out a highly detailed street level map of the world. It's similar to what Google Maps does, but you can upload your own photos instead of waiting for a Google van to drive around your neighborhood. Folks who make their own mapping software can use Mapillary's data for their own purposes, too.
Mapillary's blog post indicated that the data would remain open and free to use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, so it doesn't seem like Facebook is walling it off yet. It's not entirely clear what Facebook intends to do with Mapillary's platform, as general use mapping software isn't really in Mark Zuckerberg's portfolio.
That said, the Mapillary blog pointed to Facebook Marketplace and humanitarian aid as ways Facebook uses maps behind the scenes. Given the litany of privacy problems Facebook has dealt with in recent years, including with its shiny new Messenger Rooms video chat service, skepticism about this acquisition is certainly understandable.
Topics Cybersecurity Facebook Google Privacy
Previous：Remembering Philip Levine’s Poetics of Labor
Next：Tory Porn
Best Dyson deal: Get the Dyson Airstrait Straightener for its lowest price yet
Yes, you can really slip on a banana peel. Let this woman show you how.
Dear Facebook: Please let me make my Facebook Spaces VR avatar fat
'World of Warcraft' gold is worth 7 times more than Venezuela's currency
That Thing They Have
Ethereum hits $800 ahead of its big week
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman accused of sexual assault, resigns
Windows 10 is getting a great new screenshot tool
We Are All at the Table Together
'Destiny 2: Warmind' exotics from 'Destiny 1,' ranked
No Re-Turning Point, U.S.A.
People are baffled by the costumes in the new 'Robin Hood' trailer
What to expect at Google I/O: Android P, Google Assistant, lots of AI
Microsoft announces Remote Assist and Layout mixed reality apps
America Shoots Itself
Ryan Reynolds wants a Deadpool
Deeply committed Big Mac fan eats his 30,000th order
May the 4th reveals: We love Carrie Fisher, Hoth, and 'Force Awakens'
Hot World, Cooler Heads
Ham ice cream is the newest thing that no one asked for
Irish politician Matt Carthy hacked by own childrenThis store is getting trolled hard over its Christmas adBaby monkey finds a home on a bunch of goats, and yes it's very cute'The Word Of The Day Is' turns Slack into a game with a $1,000 prizeJaime Lannister was the MVP of 'Game of Thrones' Season 8, Episode 2The power of public shaming in Trump's AmericaThe MCU is loaded with a massive supporting cast you forgot aboutPeople can't stop lining up their faces with money and it's kind of greatNew study explains why Twitter feels like one big echo chamberThe most hacked band password is 'BlinkThank you, CTesla Model S and Model X ranges get big upgradesTwitter coTwitter coThis store is getting trolled hard over its Christmas adGoogle rolls out 'Avengers: Endgame' inspired Easter egg on searchFord wants to build a better app store for carsGoogle rolls out 'Avengers: Endgame' inspired Easter egg on searchDaenerys and Sansa's passive aggressive 'Game of Thrones' talk is now a memeBaby monkey finds a home on a bunch of goats, and yes it's very cute Audi introduces the Q4 e 'Difficult People' repeatedly joked about Kevin Spacey Is Billy attracted to Steve in 'Stranger Things 2'? It'd explain a lot Lebron James gives a cryptic explanation behind his probably petty Instagram posts Chrissy Teigen, addicted to Twitter like the rest of us, is tweeting again Apple's new iPad Pro is coming soon, but it might be hard to get one 'The Other Two' is a hilarious and underrated satire: Review Oculus Quest 2 doesn't need a wire to play on PCs anymore News anchor claps back at body shamers who said she was 'too big' for her on Disney, pressured by a critics boycott, ends the LA Times blacklisting Papa John's responds to white nationalist support of its pizza chain Uber and Lyft are spending millions to woo drivers back to their apps 16 best uses of 280 characters on Twitter How to have a Trump These Twitter accounts are killing it in Trump's America Donald Trump, Jr. tells Twitter followers to vote on the wrong day DIYers, save up to 20% on spring essentials at The Home Depot How to shut down Spot the robot 'dog,' should you ever need to Hillary Clinton guest Taylor Swift, look what you made the ACLU do