Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by HPsquared on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:21PM
(#25319744)
Is that kind of information really for sale on an individualized level, by mobile providers? Surely they have brands to protect, and don't like being sued.
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Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by arkadiyt on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:28PM
(#25319784)
Yes, in fact government agencies like the Secret Service [1], CBP [2], IRS [3], and others frequently purchase it to circumvent warrant requirements.
[1]: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/08/secret-service-o...
[2]: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-warre...
[3]: https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7agpa/irs-location-data-ven...
Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by gruez on Sunday December 06, 2020 @10:58AM
(#25324298)
The information being sold there wasn't from mobile providers, they were collected by apps. See the first paragraph of the third article: "location data quietly harvested from ordinary smartphone apps over 10,000 times". The same applies to the other two articles.
Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by ceejayoz on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:24PM
(#25319766)
Yes, at least in the recent past.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/nepxbz/i-gave-a-bounty-hunte...
They promised to stop, but I’m not sure I believe them.
Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by jswrenn on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:22PM
(#25319755)
Putting on my tinfoil hat, I'll note that mobile providers depends on Brown University for antenna space on at least three tall campus buildings.
Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by jskajakzkjx on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:36PM
(#25319823)
A few years ago you could look up any cellphone number’s location on a public website:
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/05/tracking-firm-locationsm...
Re:How does Brown University know where you are?
by bilbo0s on Saturday December 05, 2020 @07:35PM
(#25319818)
Why would they be sued? It's all right there in the contract in black and white.
And, naturally, all the customers carefully read through the contract. /s
I don't even know what could be done to stop this stuff at this point? I think it's too far gone.