3 ms·

"It's nt a privacy concern" What?! Depends who you ask! Since when are the people collecting data the ones who decide what a privacy concern is? I don't mind ri

"It's nt a privacy concern" What?! Depends who you ask! Since when are the people collecting data the ones who decide what a privacy concern is? I don't mind right now but others might and I may change my mind! "Hardly anyone opts out". This one is disgusting! Of course they won't opt out! Do I lose touch with the people I need or want to co,mini ate with and lose the ability to comparison shop as I go or do I opt in to being tracked by default? They've done this totally backwards. People should have the option to opt in not out. There really isn't much choice here. It all seems innocent enough right now but we all know it'll start going further as the years go by.

mirkules 15y ago
How do they know if someone opted out if their phone is off? Do they divide the number of cell phones by the total number of people in the mall? What if I forget my cell phone in the car or at home? Am I considered an "opt-out"? When I see this kind of stuff, I always think what is the best way to disrupt this kind of technology. The ideas that come to mind is to organize a bunch of people to randomly walk in the mall, or to leave a bunch of cell phones lying around to skew the data (although the first would be a LOT more effective).
- billpatrianakos 15y ago
  I don't know. I wouldn't really advocate skewing their data on purpose. I mean, this really is harmless stuff (for now at least). Just because it doesn't bother me doesn't mean others don't take offense though. What bothers me most is how they tout the opt-out method like its some totally reasonable thing. This is 2011 where our phones might as well me surgically attached to our bodies. That just sounded really out of touch with reality. When they start collecting data that really violates privacy without a reasonable opt out method then I'd totally go for not only skewing the data but finding a way to take that system down.
- click170 15y ago
  If you were determined you could jam the wireless spectrum, as long as your signal was strong enough you might be able to block subscriber IDs from making it to the tracking antennas.
seanp2k2 15y ago
>"People should have the option to opt in not out" And this is why I hate "SEO" types. They'd reply with "but then we wouldn't get anyone to opt-in!"...which is exactly my point. Not many people want to do this. Take a survey: ask people in the mall: "Would you like for us to track your every move inside our walls (and probably a bit outside too lol because you know we didn't invest in proper RF shielding) with no benefit to you although we'll be selling this information to the mall and making money off your non-consent?"

mirkules 15y ago

How do they know if someone opted out if their phone is off? Do they divide the number of cell phones by the total number of people in the mall? What if I forget my cell phone in the car or at home? Am I considered an "opt-out"? When I see this kind of stuff, I always think what is the best way to disrupt this kind of technology. The ideas that come to mind is to organize a bunch of people to randomly walk in the mall, or to leave a bunch of cell phones lying around to skew the data (although the first would be a LOT more effective).

billpatrianakos 15y ago
I don't know. I wouldn't really advocate skewing their data on purpose. I mean, this really is harmless stuff (for now at least). Just because it doesn't bother me doesn't mean others don't take offense though. What bothers me most is how they tout the opt-out method like its some totally reasonable thing. This is 2011 where our phones might as well me surgically attached to our bodies. That just sounded really out of touch with reality. When they start collecting data that really violates privacy without a reasonable opt out method then I'd totally go for not only skewing the data but finding a way to take that system down.
click170 15y ago
If you were determined you could jam the wireless spectrum, as long as your signal was strong enough you might be able to block subscriber IDs from making it to the tracking antennas.

seanp2k2 15y ago

>"People should have the option to opt in not out" And this is why I hate "SEO" types. They'd reply with "but then we wouldn't get anyone to opt-in!"...which is exactly my point. Not many people want to do this. Take a survey: ask people in the mall: "Would you like for us to track your every move inside our walls (and probably a bit outside too lol because you know we didn't invest in proper RF shielding) with no benefit to you although we'll be selling this information to the mall and making money off your non-consent?"