The location tracking scandal: Do you feel anxious about your privacy?
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This scandal has resonated far beyond the pages of the tech blogs, so it's time to ask you - most of you devoted smartphone users - what are your feelings on the location tracking scandal:
Poll
- The location tracking scandal: Do you feel anxious about your privacy?
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46.75%
180 votes Hell yeah. Neither Google, nor Apple (nor any other company for that matter) should track me without my knowledge and consent. That's privacy invasion. -
36.88%
142 votes Nope, 'cause, let's face it - we have known it all along, no? And this issue was blown out of proportion anyway... -
16.36%
63 votes That's certainly alarming, but I've got nothing to hide really.
385 votes
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31 Comments
24. daniel_bargs posted on 05 May 2011, 22:58 1 1
ive got nothing to hide. maybe some americans are afraid their wifes would catch their infidelities.
2. Gawain posted on 05 May 2011, 07:10 4 0
People are just getting chapped about it now because it puts a dent in the image of their beloved Apple and Google.
Devices have retained vast amounts of data, location and otherwise for many, many years.
While I err on the side of privacy, in the end, the primary use for this data is to help companies sell you, the consumer (and me), goods and services. To enable local businesses widen their exposure beyond the typical mailer or billboard. To all these companies, it's about money and that's a better motivator than other options out there.
If "the man" wants to know where you are, and what you're doing, they aren't going to go to Apple and Google and ask.
Will Apple, Google, and other platforms (WP7 certainly does it, for RIM and webOS I think it's app specific, don't know. Don't know about Symbian either) benefit about being more up-front about it, with plain, simple language? Yes. Might they make it a condition to continue using their services, I think they will and that's their right.
In the end, it's the consumers' choice. However, having a choice doesn't equal having one "good" choice and one "bad" choice. Sometimes, all options suck.
7. JeffdaBeat posted on 05 May 2011, 10:06 5 0
I agree with you there and I honestly think that will be the future. Devices, cell phone or otherwise, will track you and your habits, to sell you goods and services. And the government isn't going to Google or Apple to get information they need. Hell, they can barely get it out of the TelCo's.
I like privacy, but I think we all willingly give that up more and more as time goes on. I don't like companies tracking me at all, but I also don't have anything to hide.
5. Jear-bear (unregistered) posted on 05 May 2011, 07:26 1 1
Really People?! When I turn my location settings on I get a warning box pop-up 'LOCATION CONSENT... ALLOW GOOGLE'S LOCATION SERVICE TO COLLECT ANOYMOUS LOCATION DATA. COLLECTION WILL OCCUR EVEN WHEN NO APPS ARE RUNNING.' I have to select agree or disagree....
So I have to say we know we are being tracked....
6. spinelessrabbit posted on 05 May 2011, 08:52 2 2
telecommunications act of 96' effective 01' requires all cell phone companies to track a device at least up to 50 feet its law people for the ones who dont read big brother can track any phone period so people like steve jobs has a stick up their you know what!
27. Uzzelien posted on 06 May 2011, 09:49 0 0
You said it right there cell phone companies to track them with in 50' that doesn't mean cell phone/os makers to track you. One other thing is they don't have to keep the data they just have to the current location of the cell phone. I'm ok with Sprint having my current location because I know they're not going to give it out with out a court order ( they've gone through that with a kid napping. ) But for google or Apple I would say no thanks.
8. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 10:36 2 1
Didn't like picking the first option, because I'm not anxious. I do care about my privacy, but was never worried for myself because I have Android. :)
9. tragichero posted on 05 May 2011, 10:59 3 0
ive always been aware that google maps saves my locations to make my phone more useful in further searches. sure i had to agree to the terms and conditions... i didnt read the whole thing.... but i think i got the gist of it. that being said, i think its wrong that apple has been doing the same thing without making people aware and given a choice. i can understand that some people dont want their location being saved. its a huge privacy issue and this liberal understands how a company tracking and saving your location information is an invasion of privacy. i feel a choice needs to be made neccesary.... and apple doesnt give you that choice. why cant they let you use gps and other location based services with out tracking you. that should be the question we are having. thats the point. i support al frankins efforts...
10. beatlesfan posted on 05 May 2011, 11:47 1 3
Dear paranoid people,
You're not that important that Google, Apple, or your respective wireless carrier tracks you just to know where you specifically are. It is efficient for them to do this.for advertising purposes and in some cases may be necessary for some features to operate correctly. Some of the complaints I've heard make me think of schizophrenic patients who fear someone is tracking them. This is silly. Your safety isn't at risk neither is your 'privacy' (which we are not guaranteed as U.S. citizens anyway). Go be paranoid elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Realist
11. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 12:06 2 1
Dear strawman,
Many of us weren't arguing that. Go fail elsewhere.
Sincerely,
SNIGGLY
12. beatlesfan posted on 05 May 2011, 12:20 1 3
Dear Sniggly,
Firt and foremost, wtf is strawman? Second, I wasn't referring necessarily to this specific post and the replies on it, by rather in general to the response from many people regarding this issue all around the interwebs. Third, if you weren't arguing that then obviously I wasn't referring to you. Also, by saying many of us weren't arguing that insinuates that SOME were arguing that. I win. Go fail elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Beatlesfan
13. Sniggly posted on 05 May 2011, 12:54 1 1
Dear Beatlesfan,
First, a strawman is a type of logical fallacy. Second, you didn't make it clear who you were talking to. Third, enough people were not being paranoid that your post was unnecessary. In fact, I can't recall hardly anyone on this site being paranoid.
16. beatlesfan posted on 05 May 2011, 13:49 0 2
What are you trying to say when you say: "enogh people were not being paranoid that your post was unnecessary"? Did you mean that not enough people were being paranoid for my post to be necessary? Double negatives are not used in the English language, last I checked. My post was not unnessary, due to the context of this original article. I was not referring to only the responses by people on this website, as previously stated. I was also attempting to be fasicious in my original post, but that obviously didn't work since there is no sarcastic font.
23. Lucas777 posted on 05 May 2011, 19:37 0 0
hey just saying but im pretty sure both ur english was right... it kinda makes sense both ways....
25. Sniggly posted on 06 May 2011, 03:15 0 0
First, you used a double negative as well. Secondly, you misspelled "facetious." Thirdly, if you were being facetious, then you should have mentioned that in the first place and I would've left you alone. So why didn't you? Are you pulling that reason out of your ass?
26. beatlesfan posted on 06 May 2011, 09:07 0 0
Someone had a little too much coffee this morning. Relax a little. Though I misspelled a word, you still understood what I was trying to say. I had no clue what you meant in your comment. Regardless, this argument is becoming silly and nitpicky, so I'm out. Peace.
