6 ms·

Interesting. Though AFAIK Lookout is mostly useless on iOS, it's essentially just another "Find my iPhone" service right? I'd be interested to know what the Go

Interesting. Though AFAIK Lookout is mostly useless on iOS, it's essentially just another "Find my iPhone" service right? I'd be interested to know what the Google queries were for. Does he use GMail?

baxtr 8y ago
Maybe they’ve made connections into the insurance industry. For them it might be interesting what your location profile looks like.
- Applejinx 8y ago
  Well, THAT'S reassuring o_O
- maxerickson 8y ago
  What substantial aggregate profit do you think they can make by analyzing detailed location data? I'm asking because I'd assume for most of their customers it just doesn't reveal much. Everyone shops at supermarkets, Target vs Walmart isn't going to reveal a whole lot more than a residential address.
  - dotancohen 8y ago
    If location is correlated with time, they could know the speed at which you travel. The car insurance could know if you visit dragstrips, which might imply specific driving habits. Or how often you visit the gas station, from which could be estimated your mileage. Or if you already report your mileage, might be used to estimate you fuel consumption, which could imply specific driving habits. The health insurance might know if you visit the same bad-neighbourhood address as some known-heroin-users do. Or if you just visit the tobacco shop.
    - maxerickson 8y ago
      You've not answered the question. Car insurance gets a lot of information from past claims, age and sex/gender, they aren't going to make a bunch of money turning away a few people that go to dragstrips. In the US, health insurers are specifically prevented from considering such things in setting their premiums, they get to consider age and smoking. Carriers that offer plans to the general public are also subject to a "guaranteed issue" provision, they are not able to refuse coverage to anyone that can pay.

6 ms·

Interesting. Though AFAIK Lookout is mostly useless on iOS, it's essentially just another "Find my iPhone" service right? I'd be interested to know what the Go

by amaccuish 8y ago

baxtr 8y ago
Maybe they’ve made connections into the insurance industry. For them it might be interesting what your location profile looks like.
- Applejinx 8y ago
  Well, THAT'S reassuring o_O
- maxerickson 8y ago
  What substantial aggregate profit do you think they can make by analyzing detailed location data? I'm asking because I'd assume for most of their customers it just doesn't reveal much. Everyone shops at supermarkets, Target vs Walmart isn't going to reveal a whole lot more than a residential address.
  - dotancohen 8y ago
    If location is correlated with time, they could know the speed at which you travel. The car insurance could know if you visit dragstrips, which might imply specific driving habits. Or how often you visit the gas station, from which could be estimated your mileage. Or if you already report your mileage, might be used to estimate you fuel consumption, which could imply specific driving habits. The health insurance might know if you visit the same bad-neighbourhood address as some known-heroin-users do. Or if you just visit the tobacco shop.
    - maxerickson 8y ago
      You've not answered the question. Car insurance gets a lot of information from past claims, age and sex/gender, they aren't going to make a bunch of money turning away a few people that go to dragstrips. In the US, health insurers are specifically prevented from considering such things in setting their premiums, they get to consider age and smoking. Carriers that offer plans to the general public are also subject to a "guaranteed issue" provision, they are not able to refuse coverage to anyone that can pay.