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US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

zdnet.com

621–630 of 648 posts

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#621

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because they will just hire someone else.

But where does that line of reasoning end? If asked to join a gang, do you agree because they'll simply find someone else?

I think if you work in tech and you're not super made then you've just got to choose a few things you absolutely wont do and compromise on the rest. I don't even think this is the most sinister of stuff out there so personally I'd probably take the job in this case.

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#624

Throwaway account. I work in location / mapping / geo. Some of us have been waiting for this to blow (which it hasn't yet). The public has zero idea how much personal location data is available. It's not just your cell carrier. Your cell phone chip manufacturer, GPS chip manufacturer, phone manufacturer and then pretty much anyone on the installed OS (android crapware) is getting a copy of your location data. Usually…

Isn't this covered under CPNI [1]? Something that consumers can opt out?

[1] https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Customer_proprietary_network_inf...

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#625

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it bother you that you're being tracked?

I'm not the person you're asking this question to, but I thought I'd reply anyways. No, it doesn't really bother me. Why would anyone care that I get up around 7AM on weekdays, drive to work around 9, stay there until 5, and then drive home? On weekends they will see me going to Target and the grocery store. Sometimes another store. Sometimes I go to visit my family in another city. I really don't care if people have…

  Why would anyone care that I get up around 7AM on weekdays
No one does. But let's assume you suddenly won the lottery. Now a lot of people care, and they're able to perfectly plan when exactly to rob your house as you are gone.

Just because you have no self-esteem doesn't mean other important people shouldn't have rights.

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#626

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in the space as well. I've tried telling my congressmen but they ignore me. I'm waiting for the backlash, especially will all the recent privacy issues. It hasn't happened yet and the problem is so large that I honestly doubt whether the public will ever truly grasp what the scope. The advice I always give when this topic comes up us to be very careful with what you install on your phone. The least expensive mobi…

I'm in the space as well. I've tried telling my congressmen but they ignore me. If you have hard evidence, forward it to the journalist or newspaper that broke a similar recent story, or whose reporting of that story you respected. Maybe you can find a journalist you respect for their reporting on Cambridge Analytica, the Paradise Papers, Edward Snowden and so on?

It's not that easy when you're not in their network. I've tried to contact a few journalists recently as I discovered twitter knows everything about youporn's user which considering their track record in term of security and the amount of politician in there could have some pretty bad effects.

It goes like this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DczGQICUQAA9ljF.jpg

The domain "syndication.twitter.com" tracks everyone but the page says: "Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!". The point is I haven't been able to run the story so far

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#627

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To corporations, you have no inalienable rights. They're just more things to be bought and sold.

Actually, not true by the defnition of inalienable right : something of which you may be deprived , but no other person may gain. It is possible to take from you real or chattel property, funds, papers, etc., and give them to another. Your life (though no longer your organs and tissues), your liberty, your happiness, not so. Those are inalienable in that they cannot exist seperate frome you.

Definition of inalienable:

That cannot be transferred to another or others: inalienable rights.

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/inalienable

Not subject to sale or transfer; inseparable.

That which is inalienable cannot be bought, sold, or transferred from one individual to another. The personal rights to life and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States are inalienable. Similarly, various types of property are inalienable, such as rivers, streams, and highways.

https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Inalienable+r...

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#628
post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most funds actively try to stay out of the media. For some it's a core strategy. ( "Out of sight, out of mind" )

Crawling under the rock safe from the light of day.

On some level I don't blame them as our national media discourse is at a 5th grade level.

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#629
post #379

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This occurred to me. It solves part of the problem, in that your phone number isn't tied to a physical location anymore. But it creates a new problem in that you don't actually have a cellular connection.

And also your phone is still collecting GPS and Wifi information, which is better than tower information anyway.

Unless those have been disabled.

Re: US cell carriers are selling access to real-time phone location data

#630
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would airplane mode work?

Airplane mode would work, yes. But it only works against the cell provider. The on-phone GPS can still work and sync the data later.

Inside of a faraday cage, there is no GPS reception.
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