Google using user data to track social distancing practices

[The Simpsons Cinematic Universe]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/02/google-launches-social-distancing-tracking-site-using-location-data.html

Interesting development.

[PSOL]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

[The Simpsons Cinematic Universe]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I'd guess only Google and Apple have the necessary data for this.

Another thought I had was: wouldn't this kind of app be, you know, pretty much a dream come true for someone trying to plan a terrorist attack?

[brucejoel99]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Generally the way these systems work is to see pings on 2.4/5ghz. Basically, people voluntarily leaving their Wifi/Bluetooth on walk by, & the access point takes note of it & adds it to the DB. This led to a lot of pushback from consumers, so many phones now randomize their MAC address so that you can't so easily passively track the device individually over a long period of time. You may still see the radio & track the ping, but beyond that, unless the person has installed your app, you don't get much more than that.

[Santander]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Generally the way these systems work is to see pings on 2.4/5ghz. Basically, people voluntarily leaving their Wifi/Bluetooth on walk by, & the access point takes note of it & adds it to the DB. This led to a lot of pushback from consumers, so many phones now randomize their MAC address so that you can't so easily passively track the device individually over a long period of time. You may still see the radio & track the ping, but beyond that, unless the person has installed your app, you don't get much more than that.

Um, Google literally knows everywhere you've ever been. They're in everyone's phones.

[brucejoel99]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Generally the way these systems work is to see pings on 2.4/5ghz. Basically, people voluntarily leaving their Wifi/Bluetooth on walk by, & the access point takes note of it & adds it to the DB. This led to a lot of pushback from consumers, so many phones now randomize their MAC address so that you can't so easily passively track the device individually over a long period of time. You may still see the radio & track the ping, but beyond that, unless the person has installed your app, you don't get much more than that.

Um, Google literally knows everywhere you've ever been. They're in everyone's phones.

[RINO Tom]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Generally the way these systems work is to see pings on 2.4/5ghz. Basically, people voluntarily leaving their Wifi/Bluetooth on walk by, & the access point takes note of it & adds it to the DB. This led to a lot of pushback from consumers, so many phones now randomize their MAC address so that you can't so easily passively track the device individually over a long period of time. You may still see the radio & track the ping, but beyond that, unless the person has installed your app, you don't get much more than that.

Um, Google literally knows everywhere you've ever been. They're in everyone's phones.

(Sorry if I misinterpret your meaning...)  You are free to be fine with that, but I'm not sure how you can rationalize mocking others for thinking it's creepy.

[brucejoel99]

I’d prefer a more user accountable organization to be in charge of this then Google.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Generally the way these systems work is to see pings on 2.4/5ghz. Basically, people voluntarily leaving their Wifi/Bluetooth on walk by, & the access point takes note of it & adds it to the DB. This led to a lot of pushback from consumers, so many phones now randomize their MAC address so that you can't so easily passively track the device individually over a long period of time. You may still see the radio & track the ping, but beyond that, unless the person has installed your app, you don't get much more than that.

Um, Google literally knows everywhere you've ever been. They're in everyone's phones.

(Sorry if I misinterpret your meaning...)  You are free to be fine with that, but I'm not sure how you can rationalize mocking others for thinking it's creepy.

I'm mocking them for not knowing the facts, mainly that Google (like I'd just said) intentionally obfuscates location data so it's impossible for any human other than you to see raw location history. Meanwhile, it's your cell carrier that already has the ability to provide your real-time location to law enforcement (at federal, state, & local levels) with no warrant through a web portal that has no checks or protections against abuse, so why bother with Google? It's not what they need to be worrying about.

[PSOL]

I should iterate that I’m not comfortable with any private firms being able to track my location like this.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Everyone wants to pretend this is something sinister and not the evolution of fine-tuned public safety technology.

[Meclazine for Israel]

I would much prefer Google to any other company in the World.

Probably trust them with my data better than any Government.

Google are the only company that does not send the fake mass emails from a CEO saying "we are in this together and there for you in this crisis".

Also, when managing my Google and Facebook advertising accounts, i cannot access the private details of anyone in Google who has looked at my ads. In Facebook however, i can almost see where they live.

Googles software for web analytics and search advertising is AAA+ grade.

Facebook/Instagram on the other hand gets a D-. The back end of the Facebook advertising platform is unbelievably poor in quality.

The two companies are like adults and teenagers.