Both Apple and Google Sued over Location-Tracking in Their Smartphone OS's

[Preach2k]

This News is not a surprise to me because I always knew that the phones had tracking.. When you have apps like chaperone which let you know where your children are and GPS can let you know where you are located. If it from your phone you can always be tracked. goes to a satellite...

 

[Bear in NM]

Preach,

Just want to technically add to your "goes to a satellite".

The GPS satellites are only one way devices in that they each send a data stream to your device. When you have at least 3-4 satellites the gps program on the phone is then able to make a mathematical triangulation calculation of where you are by where the satellites are.

Once the phone knows where it is at, then the data would have to be transmitted via cellular tower to where it is going. As a side note, I have used a program called Droidwall to individually shut down specific applications use of the 3g network.

Craig

 

[Asperity]

Google had the option to opt-in or opt-out built in to android from the start, but Apple did not give their iCustomers an option.

And it's a good thing they don't. Bin Laden's compulsive use of Foursquare on his iPhone finally caught up to him.

 

[Narsil]

And it's a good thing they don't. Bin Laden's compulsive use of Foursquare on his iPhone finally caught up to him.

Ahahahahahaha!!

That made my afternoon <grin>.

 

[kodiak799]

Just to play devil's advocate....knowing/agreeing that Google could track your location is different from saving the data and uploading it for use.

And, as opt-outs go, that's a pretty lousy choice. Sure, you're getting a free service and nothing is really free so you give up something. But for many key features being mostly useless without your location, opting-out isn't really an option.

 

[StormyHeather]

I would like to know how these people were "damaged" by the use of this location tracking and how they were damaged up to $50M! I know that when I got my phone, I checked all the settings. I turned off those settings that informed of my location. Also, I don't use Shopkick or Foursquare or the Twitter location thingee.

So long as *I* know where I am, I'm good. I don't need anyone following me electronically.