> Even cellular provider track locations in real-time by logging what cell towers you're using and associated signal strength.

They also sell that data, and until about 3 years ago, anyone could access it FOR FREE! :D

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/05/tracking-firm-locationsm...

The protocol they use explicitly protects against this attack vector.

Details of the rotating key used so that persistent tracking based off of the BLE beacon isn’t possible: https://www.wired.com/story/apple-find-my-cryptography-bluet...

Um they get that data from being a monopoly and knowing when most people are looking up directions to or information about a location.

Sure, they might do some other stuff to expand the data but there's much more relevant data right in their first-party domain.

No, they definitely read your location on your phone and "place you there". It has nothing to do with active actions made by yourself.

The same way traffic readings are done, not by cars, but by people in cars with phones.

Apart from what my sibling already said, think about it. How would searching for a restaurant correlate with "popular times"? Not much really. Would be all over the place. I search for the restaurant 3 days in advance at 10 in the morning but I'll be there Saturday night at 8, just like many other people. And at 10 in the morning the restaurant was still closed.