Tracking Phones, Google Is a Dragnet for the Police

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:31 PM UTC

kevingrahl wrote: post #61

Jerry2 wrote: post #36

> Though Google’s data cache is enormous, it doesn’t sweep up every phone, said Mr. Edens, the California intelligence analyst. And even if a location is recorded every few minutes, that may not coincide with a shooting or an assault. > But despite the drawbacks, detectives noted how precise the data was and how it was collected even when people weren’t making calls or using apps — both improvements over tracking tha…

You can turn off the collection of location data for Google. [1] You can also delete old location data. Google is saying that they won’t collect location data unless you opt-in but I’d assume most people just click on “Okay” once when asked to. Of course nobody really knows if Google honors your settings. [1] - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3118687?hl=en

Post by ehsankia » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:33 PM UTC

jfk13 wrote: post #56

ehsankia wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a little confused here. It turned out that it was his mother's ex-boyfriend, who had taken his car without permission. That explains the car, but how does it explain the location? Did he just happen to also leave close to there and was moving in a similar pattern? Was the phone inside the car? Really, the issue here was the car, without which they wouldn't have had enough evidence to get the person's information…

If someone steals my car and uses it when committing a crime, I can accept that may well lead to questioning me. But I don't think it justifies keeping me in jail for a week.

Post by duxup » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:38 PM UTC

webreac wrote: post #77

duxup wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the challenge is you don't know where the "runner" you're tracking is going and the variety of surveillance systems they tap into is a pretty big unknown.

The inefficiency of administration is the last protection of our privacy ?

Post by fghtr » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:45 PM UTC

rexpop wrote: post #49

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why do we have a system that says justice was served? Suggest specific improvements and call them into your representatives. The closer you can make your proposals to a bill, the more likely it is that the problem becomes an issue. In this case, I’d argue we need publicly-subsidised attorneys for wrongful arrest. It should also be unlawful to dismiss an employee because they were arrested and never indicted. Giving…

My representatives do not listen to me.

Post by KirinDave » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:52 PM UTC

dontbenebby wrote: post #84

fharper1961 wrote: post #18

Location data can also be used to help prove your innocence. It sucks that this innocent person ended up suffering. Hopefully law enforcement will become better at figuring out false positives before arresting someone. I do like that the gov. doesn't have direct access. Seems to me like the more independent parties required to access the data, the lower the chances of abuse.

> Location data can also be used to help prove your innocence. I can retain receipts from gas stations, getting a soda at the corner store, etc without needing to beam my realtime location data to the cloud.