4 ms·

Then don't turn it on. It's completely optional.

by ars 8y ago

dmix 8y ago
It's not like it's a button you can press to "turn it off". Google's smartphone which dominates the market and has billions of users is funded by a company whose whole business model is tracking + targeting users using the data they provide. Rooting and install another Android OS is no easy task for a normie and comes with it's own maintenance baggage. And even then you have to install Google's proprietary software to even use the App Store. A phone without the app store is a no-go for 99% of people. The solution is allow the customers the option to "turn it on" (especially after they pay $300-900 for a phone) rather than being omnipresent.
- deadmutex 8y ago
  The article seems to contradict your statement: "Location History is not on by default. Google prompts users to enable it when they are setting up certain services — traffic alerts in Google Maps, for example, or group images tied to location in Google Photos.'
  - rcw4256 8y ago
    My experience contradicts the article's claims. I don't remember ever turning this on, and when I first learned about Location History (years ago), it was already populated with a significant amount of my location history data. Maybe I did technically agree to it in some piece of fine print or other text I didn't notice, but I contest the idea that legitimate, unambiguous user consent was obtained in all cases.
    - ars 8y ago
      I also started with Location history years ago and I most definitely do remember Android specifically asking if I want it or not, and I remember checking what turning it on meant. Maybe you don't remember it, but you can look at old version of Android and they all ask very clearly if you want it or not. I guess maybe you didn't understand what was implied? But it was definitely asked.
  - kuzehanka 8y ago
    Google is tracking your location regardless of what settings you toggle how. They have been forced to admit that much. https://thehill.com/policy/technology/433742-google-takes-heat-over-location-tracking-in-privacy-debate https://thehill.com/policy/technology/433742-google-takes-he... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqw81WF_eqw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqw81WF_eqw
    - shittyadmin 8y ago
      What they're referring to in that article is that when you use Google Maps and as you're following driving directions, their servers get your location so they can compute your route and offer you better routes and notifications about accidents and such along the way. That part I feel I signed up for and is perfectly fine. It's been stretched by media to make it sound nefarious, but no one has shown that they're actually sending location data when history is disabled and you're not using maps.
      - kuzehanka 8y ago
        No, what they're referring to is that if you use an android phone, either with a sim card or with google services authenticated, they are are recording the location of the phone to provide 'services' such as phone calling and play store access. The only thing location history toggles is whether your location data is branched off to the location history product line. It does not toggle the existence of that data or the fact that it's archived at several other points. Take the time to watch the congress hearing and note the very carefully worded answers and why they are worded that way.
        shittyadmin 8y ago
        It was based on his wording that I drew my conclusions, they provide many services outside of location history which do mandate on demand location data, you know? Do you have any evidence that they're still doing periodic location after location history is disabled? I had heard concerns but it seemed they were exaggerated last I checked. Should be pretty obvious in RE if that's true. Ultimately though, you're still not getting around being tracked, your cell provider collects that location data even if Google doesn't. Just having a cell phone and a SIM puts you in a pretty awful state privacy wise.
- shittyadmin 8y ago
  > It's not like it's a button you can press to "turn it off". Yes, there's literally a button you can press. No rooting, no reflashing necessary. Google Account -> Data & Personlization -> Location History Done. In fact, as is mentioned in this article even, Google explicitly alerts you when you first enable it and allows you to opt out of it. Once you've done this, the only time Google will get your location is if you use Maps or Location API services.
  - 64738 8y ago
    Google says otherwise. Here is a clip from the Senate Judiciary Committee questioning about a month ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyuCtbK3qw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyuCtbK3qw

Then don't turn it on. It's completely optional.

by ars 8y ago

Then don't turn it on. It's completely optional.

dmix 8y ago

It's not like it's a button you can press to "turn it off". Google's smartphone which dominates the market and has billions of users is funded by a company whose whole business model is tracking + targeting users using the data they provide. Rooting and install another Android OS is no easy task for a normie and comes with it's own maintenance baggage. And even then you have to install Google's proprietary software to even use the App Store. A phone without the app store is a no-go for 99% of people. The solution is allow the customers the option to "turn it on" (especially after they pay $300-900 for a phone) rather than being omnipresent.

deadmutex 8y ago
The article seems to contradict your statement: "Location History is not on by default. Google prompts users to enable it when they are setting up certain services — traffic alerts in Google Maps, for example, or group images tied to location in Google Photos.'
- rcw4256 8y ago
  My experience contradicts the article's claims. I don't remember ever turning this on, and when I first learned about Location History (years ago), it was already populated with a significant amount of my location history data. Maybe I did technically agree to it in some piece of fine print or other text I didn't notice, but I contest the idea that legitimate, unambiguous user consent was obtained in all cases.
  - ars 8y ago
    I also started with Location history years ago and I most definitely do remember Android specifically asking if I want it or not, and I remember checking what turning it on meant. Maybe you don't remember it, but you can look at old version of Android and they all ask very clearly if you want it or not. I guess maybe you didn't understand what was implied? But it was definitely asked.
- kuzehanka 8y ago
  Google is tracking your location regardless of what settings you toggle how. They have been forced to admit that much. https://thehill.com/policy/technology/433742-google-takes-heat-over-location-tracking-in-privacy-debate https://thehill.com/policy/technology/433742-google-takes-he... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqw81WF_eqw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqw81WF_eqw
  - shittyadmin 8y ago
    What they're referring to in that article is that when you use Google Maps and as you're following driving directions, their servers get your location so they can compute your route and offer you better routes and notifications about accidents and such along the way. That part I feel I signed up for and is perfectly fine. It's been stretched by media to make it sound nefarious, but no one has shown that they're actually sending location data when history is disabled and you're not using maps.
    - kuzehanka 8y ago
      No, what they're referring to is that if you use an android phone, either with a sim card or with google services authenticated, they are are recording the location of the phone to provide 'services' such as phone calling and play store access. The only thing location history toggles is whether your location data is branched off to the location history product line. It does not toggle the existence of that data or the fact that it's archived at several other points. Take the time to watch the congress hearing and note the very carefully worded answers and why they are worded that way.
      - shittyadmin 8y ago
        It was based on his wording that I drew my conclusions, they provide many services outside of location history which do mandate on demand location data, you know? Do you have any evidence that they're still doing periodic location after location history is disabled? I had heard concerns but it seemed they were exaggerated last I checked. Should be pretty obvious in RE if that's true. Ultimately though, you're still not getting around being tracked, your cell provider collects that location data even if Google doesn't. Just having a cell phone and a SIM puts you in a pretty awful state privacy wise.
shittyadmin 8y ago
> It's not like it's a button you can press to "turn it off". Yes, there's literally a button you can press. No rooting, no reflashing necessary. Google Account -> Data & Personlization -> Location History Done. In fact, as is mentioned in this article even, Google explicitly alerts you when you first enable it and allows you to opt out of it. Once you've done this, the only time Google will get your location is if you use Maps or Location API services.
- 64738 8y ago
  Google says otherwise. Here is a clip from the Senate Judiciary Committee questioning about a month ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyuCtbK3qw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyuCtbK3qw