Another dumb question...Location features

[JIMV]

I have another question. How does one turn OFF the location features in my Droid II? The idea that my phone is sending tracking data back to anyone for use in a data base is very 1984....

 

[Sean Brunett]

I have another question. How does one turn OFF the location features in my Droid II? The idea that my phone is sending tracking data back to anyone for use in a data base is very 1984....

Should be able to do it just by going to:

Settings -> Location and Security and unchecking the services there (Verizon, Google, any others that are listed)

 

[JIMV]

thanks

 

[takeshi]

The idea that my phone is sending tracking data back to anyone for use in a data base is very 1984....

What's on your device that's sending back location data?

 

[Moscow Desire]

I believe the OP is concerned due to reports that Android, suffers the ill fate of iPhone, in tracking the whereabouts of the phone in question. IE; it follows your every move.

In the case of the iPhone, turning off the location...blah blah blah, has absolutely no effect on the phone keeping and tranmitting your location data. It still does it.

 

[JIMV]

What's on your device that's sending back location data?

I do not know, which is the issue. I KNOW the iPhone both collects data and sends it back to apple. I KNOW some apps do the same on android systems, but I do not know if the Droid II global has any similar scheme built in.

I have turned off the location data but I have no faith that stops the phone from doing its thing. I heard on the TV yesterday that some android phones collect data for Google even when turned off...

That is unsat and should be (may already be) illegal. I read today that Apple just was served with its first class action suit on the issue.

Bottom line...Verizon sold me a phone...once sold it is mine. I have not given anyone permission to gather data on me nor do I like the idea that other folk might use such data to make money.

 

[PvilleComp]

I do not know, which is the issue. I KNOW the iPhone both collects data and sends it back to apple. I KNOW some apps do the same on android systems, but I do not know if the Droid II global has any similar scheme built in.

Apps that collect and use location data declare heir intentions when you go to install the app. Apps like Sensorly, who crowd sources mapping of cellular signal strength down to the block level, obviously have to collect location and wireless signal strength and send it back to a server for processing. In Sensorly's case each install is given a random identifier for bug tracking purposes and processing purposes.

Google and VZW Location services also use a random identifier for location services but it is so that they can determine if 1 person is going somewhere 100 times or if 100 people are going once. How do you think that things like local Google search and localization of things like "Find Best Buy" are done?

I have turned off the location data but I have no faith that stops the phone from doing its thing. I heard on the TV yesterday that some android phones collect data for Google even when turned off...

If you turn off the location services, they are off. If you have NO faith that they are off then you probably want to go back to a simple phone. As far as hearing on TV that the devices collect data even when turned off... well...

Now if you turn off location services and then turn on the GPS to use Google NAV, guess what... your location will be cached so that the Navigation program can do it's thing.

That is unsat and should be (may already be) illegal. I read today that Apple just was served with its first class action suit on the issue.

Bottom line...Verizon sold me a phone...once sold it is mine. I have not given anyone permission to gather data on me nor do I like the idea that other folk might use such data to make money.

Yes. You did give them permission when you agreed to the terms of service for the device. When you agreed to the terms of service for 4square, Facebook, Twitter, grupon and any one of hundreds of apps in the market that use location services.

If you are worried about your location being tracked, turn off the location services, turn off the use my location feature in the browser, delete your Twitter account, delete your Facebook account, delete your 4square account and only use the Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth radios when necessary.

Android does in fact cull the data out of the location cache. It's not stored forever on the device like Apple is doing.

Now - to address what I think is your primary concern? Is Google collecting location data? Yes. It has been since the first day the company started. It uses location data for every web search by tracking incoming IP addresses. It uses location data for My Google where you GIVE them the data. It uses the information collected so that you do not see a Mattress Warehouse ad from Seattle when you are in Poughkeepsie. It uses location data to customize and streamline it's searches for every search. An Android phone is just another platform to more effectively deliver advertising.

For what it?s worth, I don?t like the idea of having my location tracked every minute either. I do only turn on the GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio as I need them. I have location disabled in every app I can realistically, I don?t use Facebook, I don?t use geo-tagging of photos, and other stuff like that.

If this is coming off as a rant I?m sorry its not meant to.

 

[JIMV]

If you turn off the location services, they are off. If you have NO faith that they are off then you probably want to go back to a simple phone. As far as hearing on TV that the devices collect data even when turned off... well...

I have also read the same on numerous sites...I have no problem with apps that do this for they can be avoided. I do have a problem with things like the iPhone where the data mining cannot be stopped and the service doing the gathering makes money on it.

I view it like buying a house and then a year later finding all the rooms are wired for video and, oh by the way, the previous owner is also in the porn business.

Yes. You did give them permission when you agreed to the terms of service for the device. When you agreed to the terms of service for 4square, Facebook, Twitter, grupon and any one of hundreds of apps in the market that use location services.

I have looked up the agreement for Apple...over 150 pages long, 12 in English, in tiny font. I would give odds that 99% on this (or any other forum) have not read the agreement that came with their service. In addition, the simple addition of obscure phrases to such an agreement does not make the practice legal.

Here is a link to the class action suit...they allege Apple violated the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as well as numerous State privacy laws.

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gadgetlab/2011/04/applesnoop.pdf

If you are worried about your location being tracked, turn off the location services, turn off the use my location feature in the browser, delete your Twitter account, delete your Facebook account, delete your 4square account and only use the Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth radios when necessary.

I do not have twitter or facebook accounts for exactly this reason. I do not know what a 4square account is.

Android does in fact cull the data out of the location cache. It's not stored forever on the device like Apple is doing.

Now - to address what I think is your primary concern? Is Google collecting location data? Yes. It has been since the first day the company started. It uses location data for every web search by tracking incoming IP addresses. It uses location data for My Google where you GIVE them the data. It uses the information collected so that you do not see a Mattress Warehouse ad from Seattle when you are in Poughkeepsie. It uses location data to customize and streamline it's searches for every search. An Android phone is just another platform to more effectively deliver advertising.

If one gets used to this, one will find oneself getting cell calls from telemarketers, and internet adds. Imagine if one wanders near a business...the phone knows where you are, Google knows where you are and....here we enter into speculation...Google sells the data to merchants. As you enter the area your phone begins to get unasked for advertising from the area merchants.

And that is assuming the data never, ever gets to actual bad guys, stalkers, identity thieves, creditors, and snoops.

Let me be clear...the nature of my complaint is legal or perhaps political. I used this forum not to make that political point, but to understand what my options are in disabling such invasions of privacy on my phone.

If folk want to be tracked and like having their every move recorded, fine. My wish is to opt out of that intrusion. I also want the practice to become well known and for the potential abuse to be criminalized. I do not want Google/Apple or anyone else making money on data they have extracted from me without my actual informed consent. Obscure language in a document no one reads is not informed consent and the practice violates a lot of existing laws.

 

[font1975]

...use the Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth radios when necessary...

To be clear, using WiFi still gives away your location to any tracking that's enabled

Having the ability to turn off most tracking is a good thing, and I would encourage folks to make use of it......

But you know, even a "dumb phone" can track you, perhaps it doesn't save the data on the device, but it's "pinging" the network and reporting its location to the towers. My point is, the moment you "plug in" to the grid, your whereabouts and movements are known.

For anyone reading this forum who is really concerned about third-parties knowing where you are would need to stop using all tech, I'm afraid. (Or at least sever all network connections to the tech you are using). Between your mobile phone, Internet connection, credit/debit cards, car registration, property taxes, home phone, electronic Toll Tag etc. etc, the data to find you, track you, and predict your movements are already out there!

(Granted, the phones with GPS and tower triangulation can get within 15 feet of your location; and that IS a bit much. Until you've lost your phone and need Lookout to find it.....)

 

[PvilleComp]

Jimv -

It was not my intent to rant or cause angst and I apologize again if my post came off that way. I was only trying to address your questions/concerns with the technical realities.

I agree with you. Keeping your personal data secure is important. Too many people willingly give up every intimate and personal detail of their lives only to have bad things happen. I see it every day.

As font1975 said - there is too much information about all of us out there already, and you are correct to ask how to disable these features and how to best minimize the data collection that occurs to all of us every day. Unfortunately in some respects it is a choice of the lesser evil and who do you trust more.

Google says that the data is purged from their internal database on a regular basis. Some people who I respect have looked at the databases in question and agree, so until proven otherwise I have to accept that Google is taking some steps to secure and anonymize (sp?) the data.

By the same token, I will continue to toggle my radios as needed.