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There are several ways I can think of. First, people were willingly installing COVID-19 contact apps to alert them if they were in contact with a confirmed-pos
by mirkules 4y ago
There are several ways I can think of.
First, people were willingly installing COVID-19 contact apps to alert them if they were in contact with a confirmed-positive case. Despite all of “us” (security-paranoid people) shouting at the top of our lungs that This Is A Bad Idea.
Second, your phone is constantly listening to a list of SSIDs and bluetooth identifiers to connect to and broadcasts a small amount of info - like your MAC address -, which can uniquely fingerprint your device. Supermarkets, for example, have used this for years to track shoppers. They can easily track your phone without GPS just by listening what it broadcasts and where from. And it is also then not a surprise when Apple decided to remove the functionality to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth from the “drawer” and instead of for it to only “disconnect from nearby networks until tomorrow.”
Here is the article about WiFi and retail stores https://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-your-smartphone-and-827512308 https://lifehacker.com/how-retail-stores-track-you-using-you...
- BizarroLand 4y agoIt was actually nice to get notified that I had been exposed to COVID 2 days before I came down with symptoms. I was able to avoid my coworkers and prevent me from spreading it to them and their families. In most things I would agree to the adage about those who would give up their freedom for safety deserve neither freedom nor safety, but the right to not share my location data to help people be aware of a deadly pandemic and protect themselves is not something I would consider a freedom, and it was given up to protect other people's safety which is a noble cause.
- mirkules 4y agoWe always sacrifice liberty for these "noble" goals, don't we? But once you do, there is never getting them back. See: PATRIOT Act. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
- BizarroLand 4y agoIf there is a liberty to expose innocent people to potentially deadly diseases I don't want it for myself or others. If that's a step towards hell then God is not good.
- illuminerdy 4y ago> "If there is a liberty to expose innocent people to potentially deadly diseases I don't want it for myself or others." But you don't get to make that decision for OTHERS. If you are worried about COVID, stay home and wrap yourself in a bubble. There's a certain amount of risk that comes with living with people.
- BizarroLand 4y agoMeh, I don't have to countenance the opinions of selfish people
- illuminerdy 4y ago> "Meh, I don't have to countenance the opinions of selfish people" And the rest of us don't have to inject untested, unproven chemicals into OUR bodies just so YOU can have a false sense of security and virtue signal. Freedom all around.