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(Original author here.) Yes, living this way is sometimes exhausting. I don't expect others to do what I do. I often go to extremes to reveal how complicated op

(Original author here.) Yes, living this way is sometimes exhausting. I don't expect others to do what I do. I often go to extremes to reveal how complicated opting out actually is, in an effort to point the way to an alternative path that doesn't require all this surveillance. There's more about that here: https://www.optoutproject.net/about-the-opt-out-project/ https://www.optoutproject.net/about-the-opt-out-project/

russdill 4y ago
Surveillance technology will only improve. Trying to live this way will become impossible. The only solution is regulation.
- cyberlyra 4y ago
  As long as it's not that senator who asked Zuckerberg to "shut down finsta"... ;)
- wintogreen74 4y ago
  What do you think will be a more effective push towards regulation: demonstrating & publicizing the pernicious privacy impacts like this, or passively sitting around and waiting for it to just happen?
flutas 4y ago
Quick note: In your post you say the wristbands are "infrared" > not on a wristband which is subject to infrared detection throughout the parks in Florida. They use NFC for close range, RFID for longer range, and as of the new ones Bluetooth as well. Though...as far as I know most of the positional data from this is garbage and was thrown out in the past few years. They are also most likely (I think they are but can't confirm) using phone WiFi signals for triangulation throughout the park to detect guest flow patterns.
- caddemon 4y ago
  They've used magic bands for overall guest flow in the past with some success but you're probably right that they use phones now. With the new fast pass system (Genie+) and the virtual queues they introduced for the most popular rides, it's pretty essential to be using the Disney app while at the parks now. I did notice that they've gotten better and better at automatically assigning ride photos to your account and things of that nature over the last 5 years. I assume it is a shift to the phone tracking because the magic bands definitely didn't have the best resolution for that kind of thing. They still market magic bands somewhat heavily though and they're still the primary way people tap into fast pass lane, some of the restaurant reservations, etc. Plus they can still be used as room keys and to charge purchases to your room if you are staying on property. It might be more of a psychological thing than a tech thing at this point, but I feel like magic bands will be around in some form for quite a while still.
  - flutas 4y ago
    > I did notice that they've gotten better and better at automatically assigning ride photos to your account and things of that nature over the last 5 years. I assume it is a shift to the phone tracking because the magic bands definitely didn't have the best resolution for that kind of thing. Yep, if you use the app on your phone they use BT for that now, and MB as a backup. [0] > I feel like magic bands will be around in some form for quite a while still. Oh absolutely, they just came out with "MagicBand+" which has RGB LEDs on it, Haptic feedback (iirc?) and BT for in-park experiences such as a statue talking to you. [1] [0]: https://blogmickey.com/2021/04/bluetooth-ride-photo-linking-pilot-rolls-out-to-all-eligible-disney-world-attractions/ https://blogmickey.com/2021/04/bluetooth-ride-photo-linking-... [1]: https://youtu.be/psp9EE8MADU https://youtu.be/psp9EE8MADU
- JohnFen 4y ago
  > They are also most likely (I think they are but can't confirm) using phone WiFi signals for triangulation throughout the park to detect guest flow patterns. Given that this isn't rare in retail stores, I think that's a pretty safe assumption.

russdill 4y ago

Surveillance technology will only improve. Trying to live this way will become impossible. The only solution is regulation.

cyberlyra 4y ago
As long as it's not that senator who asked Zuckerberg to "shut down finsta"... ;)
wintogreen74 4y ago
What do you think will be a more effective push towards regulation: demonstrating & publicizing the pernicious privacy impacts like this, or passively sitting around and waiting for it to just happen?

flutas 4y ago

Quick note: In your post you say the wristbands are "infrared" > not on a wristband which is subject to infrared detection throughout the parks in Florida. They use NFC for close range, RFID for longer range, and as of the new ones Bluetooth as well. Though...as far as I know most of the positional data from this is garbage and was thrown out in the past few years. They are also most likely (I think they are but can't confirm) using phone WiFi signals for triangulation throughout the park to detect guest flow patterns.

caddemon 4y ago
They've used magic bands for overall guest flow in the past with some success but you're probably right that they use phones now. With the new fast pass system (Genie+) and the virtual queues they introduced for the most popular rides, it's pretty essential to be using the Disney app while at the parks now. I did notice that they've gotten better and better at automatically assigning ride photos to your account and things of that nature over the last 5 years. I assume it is a shift to the phone tracking because the magic bands definitely didn't have the best resolution for that kind of thing. They still market magic bands somewhat heavily though and they're still the primary way people tap into fast pass lane, some of the restaurant reservations, etc. Plus they can still be used as room keys and to charge purchases to your room if you are staying on property. It might be more of a psychological thing than a tech thing at this point, but I feel like magic bands will be around in some form for quite a while still.
- flutas 4y ago
  > I did notice that they've gotten better and better at automatically assigning ride photos to your account and things of that nature over the last 5 years. I assume it is a shift to the phone tracking because the magic bands definitely didn't have the best resolution for that kind of thing. Yep, if you use the app on your phone they use BT for that now, and MB as a backup. [0] > I feel like magic bands will be around in some form for quite a while still. Oh absolutely, they just came out with "MagicBand+" which has RGB LEDs on it, Haptic feedback (iirc?) and BT for in-park experiences such as a statue talking to you. [1] [0]: https://blogmickey.com/2021/04/bluetooth-ride-photo-linking-pilot-rolls-out-to-all-eligible-disney-world-attractions/ https://blogmickey.com/2021/04/bluetooth-ride-photo-linking-... [1]: https://youtu.be/psp9EE8MADU https://youtu.be/psp9EE8MADU
JohnFen 4y ago
> They are also most likely (I think they are but can't confirm) using phone WiFi signals for triangulation throughout the park to detect guest flow patterns. Given that this isn't rare in retail stores, I think that's a pretty safe assumption.