Re:Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re ...
by bastawhiz on Friday December 02, 2016 @01:22AM
(#13086521)
I don't want to sound like I'm minimizing the issue, when I say this, because I respect the sentiments expressed here greatly. But there's a very strong stigma around collection of location data, more so than other forms of more sensitive information. Almost every credit card company, bank, insurance company, and more share your every purchase. What you buy, what you eat, how you live. As far as the sensitivity of data goes, location data is serious, but far less serious compared to things that people are mostly okay with.
For me, I go to and from home, the gym, and work. Every day. If someone was looking at that data, I'd be creeped out, but they'd learn almost nothing about me. If someone saw my credit card statements, I'd be mortified. And yet, almost everyone forgets to fill out and mail back that little slip you get with a new credit card that says "hey, actually I don't want you to sell all of my data to everyone on the planet."
Re:Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re ...
by rajathagasthya on Friday December 02, 2016 @02:24AM
(#13086796)
> For me, I go to and from home, the gym, and work. Every day. If someone was looking at that data, I'd be creeped out, but they'd learn almost nothing about me.
Ha, this sounds exactly like "I have nothing to hide, so I'm okay with the NSA gathering all of my data".
Re:Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re ...
by pg314 on Friday December 02, 2016 @03:06AM
(#13086969)
Some people do have things to hide: they are having affairs, visiting prostitutes, going to Planned Parenthood to have an abortion, going to a cancer center to get treatment,...
Re:Uber Now Tracks Passengers’ Locations Even After They’re ...
by newman314 on Saturday December 03, 2016 @01:06PM
(#13096695)
I'd suggest you read https://www.wired.com/2013/03/anonymous-phone-location-data/ if you have not previously seen this.
Part of the issue is that location has a lot more "physicality" tied to it. One can't easily change where they live, work etc. whereas it's much easier to switch credit cards.
Having said all that, it's still creepy. And the examples you gave (Google/Gmail, Microsoft/Cortana) are almost certainly also instances where data collected is being systematically used in what many would consider creepy ways.