Android Devices Collect Location Data, Send it to Google
Its not that big deal
1. Apple is recording location info without the user's knowledge and with no apparent way to opt out
2. There is no way to remove the data from the phone, a 'clear all location data' so to speak
3, It presents a huge potential security risk if the phone is lost or stolen, imagine if a woman is being stalked by an obsessed ex-boyfriend, all he needs to do is steal her phone and he has a damn good idea where she is likely to be at any time
Now, it is true that Android and other smartphone platforms also collect user location data, as you said, many of the most popular apps are location based, hence they need user location to work, HOWEVER, there is a difference because other smartphones h...
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Nothing new here. The only difference is that the practice has been brought to light.
HOWEVER......triangulation by cell towers is EXTREMELY inaccurate, especially compared to GPS...and there is no big database recording where you've been over your history with the company....there are actually very strict federal laws FORBIDDING this...
It is much like the information about your call and text history....the carriers know what numbers you are calling, when you are calling them and so forth, however the are no listened to or recorded, no is the content of text messages stored anywhere, all the ...
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I am aware how GSM works, but even LAC code or tower data is sufficient for what the carriers were doing.
Furthermore, I posed no moral equivalent argument. I don't think I even made an argument. All I noted was that this is the first time this issue came to light for something that was considered standard practice.
If I were to make any point, the present overreaction has to be considered ridiculous, because there's nothing new about this. It doesn't mean I like what they're going or that I hate it. It just means we have to put this into context before making a judgment.
This shouldn't be a big shock to anybody who uses android. How do you think google maps, foursquare, facebook places, google maps, etc.. get your appx location before it gets gps sync, and keeps the location in memory to access?
I guess it won't be 'that big of a deal' until we all become robot sandwiches.
"We do what we must because we can."
😛
The FCC or FBI will not be knocking on your door to find out where you have been last night. 😲
Although I did hear about police in Massachusetts(?) that were using scanners to check peoples smartphones at traffic stops. THIS I am against, because it would pull all pictures, texts etc within minutes.
But for just location services? eh, not so much.
This forum is closed.