Live data from Hacker News

What Location Tracking Looks Like

eff.org

1–10 of 43 posts

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#3
TL;DR - A German man got all the data his cell company had collected on him, correlated it to his other public data on the web (Twitter, etc) and made an online, animated map of his life. Illustrates how much can be known about someone from these two sources and argues for restricting what carriers collect and what governments can get from them.

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#5
post #4

Airplane-mode is your friend. But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand.

My mother recently lost her brand new iphone (4g). Verizon knows where the phone is (of course) but of course they will not give out that information. Even outside of privacy issues (which are substantial and very disturbing), even at basic customer support level these * are out to * us.

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#6
This makes me want to get a tinfoil hat. Now do I give up one of my most vital tools because someone knows where I am at almost all of the time? Do I trust the government to make sure this data is not misused? Or do just go all in and make sure the google, fb, twitter etc have it too and continue to whistle through the graveyard? There has to be a realistic middle ground to protect privacy but with the global data cloud surrounding us I have no idea what that would be.

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#7
post #4

Airplane-mode is your friend. But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand.

> But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand.

This information can be invaluable in crime investigations. Think if you're abducted and manage to keep your phone with you and on - they can track it.

It's a situation where the data can be valuable, but someone needs to watch the watchers.

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#8
post #7
post #4

Airplane-mode is your friend. But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand.

> But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand. This information can be invaluable in crime investigations. Think if you're abducted and manage to keep your phone with you and on - they can track it. It's a situation where the data can be valuable, but someone needs to watch the watchers.

IMO the question is: do they start recording your location after the warrant/subpoena or do they just record it all the time?

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#9
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But why are carriers storing this tracking information for more than 24 hours, unless of course it's by government demand. This information can be invaluable in crime investigations. Think if you're abducted and manage to keep your phone with you and on - they can track it. It's a situation where the data can be valuable, but someone needs to watch the watchers.

IMO the question is: do they start recording your location after the warrant/subpoena or do they just record it all the time?

I imagine it would make sense to keep records for a few billing cycles. It wouldn't be unreasonable to have to deal with a customer dispute 3-6 months in the future. But I imagine it's also just plain easier to truncate the logs every six months or every year.

Re: What Location Tracking Looks Like

#10
post #9
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO the question is: do they start recording your location after the warrant/subpoena or do they just record it all the time?

I imagine it would make sense to keep records for a few billing cycles. It wouldn't be unreasonable to have to deal with a customer dispute 3-6 months in the future. But I imagine it's also just plain easier to truncate the logs every six months or every year.

What do billing cycles or customer disputes have to do with my location?
Post reply on HN