3 ms·
I think the devil is in the details with this type of data hand off. If there's no PII in the first batch of phones, just location and a unique ID, it doesn't s
by mind-blight 7y ago
I think the devil is in the details with this type of data hand off. If there's no PII in the first batch of phones, just location and a unique ID, it doesn't seem intrusive compared to the benefit. Law enforcement would need to make a second request to de-identify a few specific numbers. If PII is handed over during the first request, then it's a lot more intrusive
- 867-5309 7y agothe unique id is probably the phone number or the device id
- mind-blight 7y agoPhone number is definitely PII and can easily be used to de-identify. Mac address is better, but still not great. A Google or dump specific id would be best
- AlexCoventry 7y agoI read in an earlier NYT article about geo-fencing that the initial response involves unidentifiable tags.
- 867-5309 7y agoI'm not sure if MAC addresses are used in cell network negotiation, and they are easily spoofed, but the cellular network provider could certainly link an IP address to a device id. then again, most criminal "burner" phones are not internet enabled anyway
- burpsnard 7y agoIMSI, IMEI, MSISDN, etc. Systems to associate 'burner' phones to individuals, with patterns of metadata, have been commonplace for decades https://github.com/kimgr/asn1ate/blob/master/testdata/public/huawei-cdr.asn https://github.com/kimgr/asn1ate/blob/master/testdata/public...
- 867-5309 7y agoyes those can be used as device ids and in network negotiation. harder to spoof as they're a lower abstraction layer than MAC addresses
- komali2 7y agoWhy phone number? My phone number has no association with my google account lol. I swap sims and phone numbers on a whim. My email address is the most constant thing about me.
- 867-5309 7y agoit's not about linking you to a specific google account, it's about personally identifying you with a unique phone number at any given time