As Kakao massively expanded a feature that lets users check friends' locations through a KakaoTalk update from the previous 1-hour limit to unlimited, reactions are split between negative views of it as an invasion of privacy and positive responses calling it convenient.
According to Kakao Map on the 18th, Kakao updated the Talk friends location-sharing service to the "Friend location" feature on the 12th.
The Talk friends location-sharing service launched in 2019. Previously, if KakaoTalk friends mutually agreed, they could check each other's locations for a limited time. Users could choose to share their location for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour. With the newly updated "Friend location" feature, users can check the other person's location without a time limit. If a user does not end location sharing, they can check each other's locations in real time indefinitely.
However, consent is required before using the service. Users under 14 must obtain parental consent. When users do not want to share their location, they can temporarily hide it or stop sharing. In anonymous open chat rooms and group chats with more than 100 people, "Friend location" cannot be used. Location sharing is available only with KakaoTalk friends.
To use "Kakao Map Friend location," users must update to version 6.10.0 or later.
Reactions to Kakao's location-sharing update are mixed. Negative reactions citing invasion of privacy include comments such as, "Whether it's a parent, partner, or friend, someone with strong control tendencies will force location sharing," "I don't want to reveal my location to my husband in real time," and "It will be used for surveillance," while positive reactions include, "It seems useful for friends who easily get lost," "It seems good for people with dementia," and "I can safely know where my children are."
A Kakao official said, "Without a user's consent, friends cannot see the user's location, and if users no longer want to share their location, they can end sharing by leaving the Friend location group," adding, "We will continue to supplement and improve the service with safety as the top priority so that users can use it with confidence."