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Most likely the users of the devices granted location services permission to at least one app they installed, and that app includes a terms of service that allo
by TechBro8615 4y ago
Most likely the users of the devices granted location services permission to at least one app they installed, and that app includes a terms of service that allows its owner to sell location data to third parties.
- largepeepee 4y agoReminds me of a news piece that covered how a popular Muslim app, think it was a simple direction of Mecca, was selling data to brokers who resold it to govts who tracked the people. Kinda spooky how data is being abused these days, pretty sure religious people aren't the only ones being targeted.
- lrvick 4y agoThat is one issue, but the bigger issue is that even dumb phones leak their current location via cell tower triangulation at all times.
- TechBro8615 4y agoYeah, and can I just buy that from the cell phone company without being a law enforcement agency in possession of a legally valid search warrant? If I give you my phone number, how will you find my current location? It also seems a bit dubious to call this a "leak," since it seems unavoidable - how would the tower send data to my phone if it didn't know where I was?
- mrguyorama 4y agoThe radio station sends signals to my car without knowing it's location. It's only when my phone responds or pings a tower that they will know my accurate position. The hospital needs to know my details like cholesterol to provide me health services, but they are broadly not allowed to sell those details and if that data ended up somewhere it shouldn't be, you could adequately call it a "leak". Cell phone data should be the same way. Verizon will always know my location, because that's how physics works, but they should not be able to give that info to anyone or anything without my express permission or a warrant.
- theironhammer 4y ago[dead]
- mrguyorama 4y agoAnd all cell phone providers sell this data regularly, cheaply, and to law enforcement without a warrant.
- TechBro8615 4y agoProve it. Give me your email address, and I'll send you my phone number. Then you can tell me my current location.
- mrguyorama 4y agoSo you are saying just because Verizon doesn't sell location data a la carte to an individual that they cannot possibly sell it to anyone?
- TechBro8615 4y agoI read your comment of "and law enforcement" as implying non-law enforcement can also purchase location data "regularly" and "cheaply." What's an "individual?" Does it really make a difference if it's you or your LLC requesting my data? I have no - ok, maybe some - doubt that mobile internet service providers are selling "anonymized" and "aggregate" location data - but I seriously doubt they are selling individualized location data of a specific phone number to anyone who pays the right amount of money. I'm not trying to be daft; if I'm wrong I would really like to know the details of how/where this is possible, and also how I can opt out of it.
- lrvick 4y agoWatch the video I linked in our other thread. The only way to opt out is leaving your phone in airplane mode or off except in emergencies. Or switch to a one-way pager which cannot be pinged.
- lrvick 4y agoIt tends to cost around $200 for a pings that are sold on dark markets as people selling risk getting their bulk access accounts banned. You can buy one for yourself if you are curious.