Google will remove user location history for abortion clinic visits

Re:Google will remove user location history for abortion cli... by bArray on Friday July 01, 2022 @08:20PM (#31954738)

Exactly. Collecting location data in itself should not be done, and the presumption that Google is somehow equipped to know when not to collect data is pretty disgusting. It's entirely possible that location data is abused in many ways they cannot think of.

For example, a location that ties somebody to the illegal purchase of a pharmacy drug they desperately need, but cannot otherwise obtain.

One could only imagine what the likes of Hitler, Stalin or Mao (to name a few) would have been capable of if only they had been able to compel the likes of Google to release location data. It's an exceptional tool and a weapon in the wrong hands.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google will remove user location history for abortion cli... by kornhole on Friday July 01, 2022 @08:38PM (#31954834)

Watching everybody's movements is tyranny. When you compare how much power those classical tyrants had to what the state has now, you may not need to compare the relatively impotent states of the past.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Google will remove user location history for abortion cli... by mc32 on Friday July 01, 2022 @08:28PM (#31954784)

Even the better governments of the world are using this kind of information contrary to the spirit of the law and in many cases against the law itself --and very very few in gov't care, what's more most in government want to expand the capabilities. So, yes, imagine the bad guys and gals.

[ Parent | on HN ]