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Heres one for you. Years ago, when realtime traffic data was released on maps, I had an argument with a friend. I claimed that the only way they could get that
by ian0 8y ago
Heres one for you. Years ago, when realtime traffic data was released on maps, I had an argument with a friend. I claimed that the only way they could get that accuracy was by recording the cell data of every single android user and validate the (ever changing) coverage maps through those users with GPS enabled (say while using maps for directions). What had me convinced was that around that time in my city nobody used google maps, most were on low-end androids and few phones had GPS enabled as it would eat your battery. Yet the traffic stats were realtime and accurate. My friend refused to believe they would be brazen enough to do that.
I remain convinced I was right. But strangely enough - it didn't annoy me much. Because out of all the things they could have used that data, they went ahead and built an incredibly useful product by solving a difficult technical data-related problem and then made it public and free. Compare that with what your bank and telco are doing.
That said, Im not commenting on the ethics. Even with the opt in, people are not really aware their locations are being tracked. We don't know what the data is used for or who it's shared with (looking at you - NSA). It's a breech of trust. Though it will be a shame to see realtime traffic stats go down :P
- move-on-by 8y ago> Because out of all the things they could have used that data, they went ahead and built an incredibly useful product by solving a difficult technical data-related problem and then made it public and free. Privacy violations are not free, even more so if your theory is correct since it’s violating the privacy of those not even using the so-called “free” maps. Since your not commenting on ethics, I won’t either, but it’s certainly not free.
- wil421 8y agoAll the popular maps get traffic data from people who have their map apps open. [1] Waze has somewhat gameified it to make users give them even more real-time data. My SirusXM radio gets its data from traffic probes and GPS equipped trucks while also monitoring other conditions, probably from a command center. They state there can be a 20 minute delay.[2] I’m surprised they aren’t collecting data from my radio since my car has LTE. [1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Traffic https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Traffic [2]https://m.siriusxm.com/servlet/Satellite?c=SXM_PageDetail_C&childpagename=SXM/SXM_PageDetail_C/OpenContent&cid=1282010136393&pagename=SXM/Wrapper https://m.siriusxm.com/servlet/Satellite?c=SXM_PageDetail_C&...
- philipodonnell 8y agoI think if Google Maps was an optional download and said "when you use Google Maps we are tracking where you are so we can show you things and know what kind of traffic is around", and when Google Maps was off or uninstalled they didn't track you, then they could offer the exact service you as talking about without causing GDPR problems. I believe Waze managed to do it like this without needing always-on OS-level triangulated coverage maps, but I could be wrong. This seems like one of those things that is a huge thing A that they do with the data that no one likes, but in response Google says "but we do B with it so A is fine" and the response is "you could easily do B without doing A so just do B" and Google says "well we don't make as much money just from B so we will do A and since we also own the OS you'll just have to be ok with it".
- acct1771 8y agoYou have no idea what they did, or are doing, with it behind the scenes. That feature is the user accepted excuse for having the data.