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Android Devices Collect Location Data, Send it to Google

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Its not that big deal

MileHigh8710

Apr 22, 2011, 9:13 AM
OK wow apps that delivery high quality location info need your location. Doesn't seem like a big deal. Its only lat long coordinates. It's not like it's accessing the camera on the phone and some creepy guy is looking at you and where you are ppl, so calm down. Plus at least Apple doesn't send the info anywhere, its just stored on your phone or where you sync'd the device but they are not collecting it.
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T Bone

Apr 22, 2011, 10:01 AM
It is a big deal for at least 3 reasons:

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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fahrende

Apr 22, 2011, 10:48 AM
You all DO realize that the carriers have been doing this for quite some time now.

Nothing new here. The only difference is that the practice has been brought to light.
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T Bone

Apr 22, 2011, 11:10 AM
Errr....it would actually pretty close to impossible for carriers to not know where you are at a given time, because your phone registers on a certain tower, and the tech support desk can look up to see what tower you are on....

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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fahrende

Apr 22, 2011, 11:18 AM
Please read how CDMA spec and synchronization works.

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.
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szobeman

Apr 23, 2011, 9:29 AM
you do realize that you signed the terms and conditions stating that they can pretty much do what every they want with you
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djdanska

Apr 23, 2011, 2:08 PM
another big difference between apple and android is when you first buy your android phone, the first time you turn it on, it asks you if you want google to use location services. You have to check it to allow this. Apple's iphone and ipad have no such function. I read somewhere that android only keeps a very short log on the device of actual location data and is written over all the time, as you move.

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?
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consmonaut

Apr 22, 2011, 10:29 AM
You say that now, but the AI singularity is just around the bend.

I guess it won't be 'that big of a deal' until we all become robot sandwiches.
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cellgeek82

Apr 23, 2011, 8:08 AM
If Skynet doesn't then Aperture Laboritories will. The super computer GLaDOS already knows who you are! 😳

"We do what we must because we can."
😛
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analyst422

Apr 23, 2011, 7:33 PM
For science.
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teh.Cheeto

Apr 25, 2011, 2:50 PM
there is no use trying to stop them, they will keep on trying till they run out of cake.
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Mark_S

Apr 22, 2011, 12:38 PM
For the big city drug dealer or the paranoid geek, take it easy and suck it up!!!
The FCC or FBI will not be knocking on your door to find out where you have been last night. 😲
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Mikey C

Apr 23, 2011, 1:20 PM
Unless you're doing something really bad, I do not see this as being a big deal. If it goes into a database with millions of other users I don't see them singling any one person out.

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.
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Mark_S

Apr 24, 2011, 12:28 AM
Massachusetts State DUI laws let repeat offenders get off real easy but worrying more about smartphones at traffic stops is like checking to see how much Boston cream or jelly is in that doughnut. 😛
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lovo

Apr 25, 2011, 7:28 PM
how would they get that info??? i have no worries with my adnroid but im curious for example my droid x store picture on the sd card in order for any1 to access that info externaly u need to know the file name specifically to access it which is next to impossible to do without having actually held the phone in your hand as for sms how? i could see how they could tell if its in use but what if your windows are tinted how do they know theres not sum1 in the back seat???that doesnt make sense that kind of software doesnt exsist yet theres phone busters but they just check if the phones reciveing signal
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