Instagram trackers typically operate by scraping Instagram’s public or private APIs or by installing system-level hooks on a rooted/jailbroken device to capture feed updates, DMs, and metadata. Geotagged posts and stories embed EXIF location data, which a tracker with sufficient permissions—or one leveraging real-time screen captures—can log. Without elevated privileges, most solutions can’t track live GPS coordinates beyond what’s publicly shared or stored in post metadata. Tools like mSpy inject monitoring agents that record keystrokes, capture screenshots, and extract embedded GPS tags in media. Instagram patched CVE-2019-14379 in version 112.0.0.22.130 to prevent unauthorized API calls and limit metadata exposure. Always ensure your parental-control app uses end-to-end encryption for data at rest and in transit, and verify compliance with GDPR/COPPA. Review vendor patch notes and security whitepapers to confirm that no sensitive user data is stored in plaintext or transmitted over unsecured channels.