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I prefer non-legislative way. Mobile OSes are already doing something towards this. Notification warning like "app X is using your GPS" - even though it's close

by comboy 9y ago

I prefer non-legislative way. Mobile OSes are already doing something towards this. Notification warning like "app X is using your GPS" - even though it's closed or even though your screen is off. Or only allowing GPS usage while the app is on your screen. I don't think many people care though. And even if you disagree on that, I think it should be their right to sell their privacy for convenience if they want to.

Sylos 9y ago
> And even if you disagree on that, I think it should be their right to sell their privacy for convenience if they want to. Then it also has to be a right to not sell your privacy for convencience. Clearly communicate that you do sell my data to bolster your revenue and give me an option to pay more instead. It's not a legitimate business model to simply not tell me that you're selling my data and then magically have lower prices.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
brlewis 9y ago
Mobile OSes and web APIs should have distinct permissions for foreground location data and background location data. I'll gladly give my current location in exchange for temporary convenience, but the way it works now I have to give my location away from now until such time as I uninstall the app or jump through the hoops necessary to revoke permission.
- Gaelan 9y ago
  iOS does.
wlesieutre 9y ago
iOS (as of version 11) gives you an option to force "Only while using the app" access for location services. The change was probably triggered by Uber's creepy "we're going to track you for several minutes after you get out of the car" thing last year. Generated a lot of media attention and Uber has since stopped doing it. https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/ios-11-restrict-location-services-any-app/ https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/ios-11-restrict-locatio... https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/29/547113818/uber-ends-its-controversial-post-ride-tracking-of-users-location https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/29/547113818...
Bartweiss 9y ago
I definitely have complaints about the existing business models of companies that do this, like opaque (or outright dishonest) TOS. But I agree that privacy legislation is far from the only obvious answer. Ideally, I'd have control over the location data my phone provides at the active-app, installed-app, and total-shutoff levels. I don't actually mind giving out location data, I just want to know and make a choice when it happens. Fortunately, iOS is rapidly headed that way, and Android has made some promising moves. I do think there's a slightly scarier conversation to be had about the externalities of "selling privacy", though. The Facebook 'shadow profile' situation is the obvious demonstration, but far from the scariest possibility. The possibility of building up a near-comprehensive profile of someone from other people's location, image, and messaging data raises real questions about what it even means to talk about 'personal privacy' in any public setting.

by comboy 9y ago

Sylos 9y ago

> And even if you disagree on that, I think it should be their right to sell their privacy for convenience if they want to. Then it also has to be a right to not sell your privacy for convencience. Clearly communicate that you do sell my data to bolster your revenue and give me an option to pay more instead. It's not a legitimate business model to simply not tell me that you're selling my data and then magically have lower prices.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

brlewis 9y ago

Mobile OSes and web APIs should have distinct permissions for foreground location data and background location data. I'll gladly give my current location in exchange for temporary convenience, but the way it works now I have to give my location away from now until such time as I uninstall the app or jump through the hoops necessary to revoke permission.

Gaelan 9y ago
iOS does.

wlesieutre 9y ago

iOS (as of version 11) gives you an option to force "Only while using the app" access for location services. The change was probably triggered by Uber's creepy "we're going to track you for several minutes after you get out of the car" thing last year. Generated a lot of media attention and Uber has since stopped doing it. https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/ios-11-restrict-location-services-any-app/ https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/ios-11-restrict-locatio... https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/29/547113818/uber-ends-its-controversial-post-ride-tracking-of-users-location https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/29/547113818...

Bartweiss 9y ago

I definitely have complaints about the existing business models of companies that do this, like opaque (or outright dishonest) TOS. But I agree that privacy legislation is far from the only obvious answer. Ideally, I'd have control over the location data my phone provides at the active-app, installed-app, and total-shutoff levels. I don't actually mind giving out location data, I just want to know and make a choice when it happens. Fortunately, iOS is rapidly headed that way, and Android has made some promising moves. I do think there's a slightly scarier conversation to be had about the externalities of "selling privacy", though. The Facebook 'shadow profile' situation is the obvious demonstration, but far from the scariest possibility. The possibility of building up a near-comprehensive profile of someone from other people's location, image, and messaging data raises real questions about what it even means to talk about 'personal privacy' in any public setting.