Privacy Group Calls Google Latitude a Real 'Danger'

CWmike writes "Privacy International is calling Google's new mapping application an 'unnecessary danger' to users' security and privacy. The criticism follows the unveiling this week of Google Latitude, an upgrade to Google Maps that allows people to track the exact location of friends or family through their mobile devices. Google Latitude not only shows the location of friends, but it can also be used to contact them via SMS, Google Talk or Gmail. 'Many people will see Latitude as a cool product, but the reality is that Google has yet again failed to deliver strong privacy and security,' said Simon Davies, director of London-based Privacy International, in a statement. The group's chief concern is that Google Latitude lacks sufficient safeguards to keep someone from surreptitiously opting into the tracking feature on someone else's device."

Comments

Everyone focuses on the negative

[QuantumG]

It's a rule. Whenever a change in the status quo is suggested people immediately jump to the most negative conclusions.

I remember, many years ago, my all knowing government banned "reverse lookup" electronic phone books, unless they had some restrictions in the code. Later, the products fells off the market as they were no longer useful. Before then, one could lookup the telephone number of their neighbor and give them a call if the "music" spewing out of their place at 3am was a bit loud. Now you just call the police or, gulp, go over there.

Re:Everyone focuses on the negative

[interkin3tic]

Not to mention that any group called "Privacy International" might have a somewhat unrealistic view of how much of a threat this is.

Which is not to say they're wrong, just that often times interest groups like this overzealously reject things out of hand that they percieve to be a threat.

Re:Everyone focuses on the negative

[Malevolyn]

They're blowing it so far out of proportion that I'm going to go ahead and say they're wrong. People have the option of simply not using Latitude, not updating their location, etc. Crisis averted.

Re:Everyone focuses on the negative

[ShieldW0lf]

If the government agencies and large corporations already knew everything that Google Latitude reveals, and they do, then I didn't lose any privacy. Neither did any of you. You can't lose what you didn't have.

What actually happened was, we just got brought into the loop. That's it, that's all.

If you think this is a bad thing, then it's probably time to grow some integrity and tell your spouse about your affair...

Re:Everyone focuses on the negative

[interkin3tic]

i just served jury duty where the defendant was accused of using tracking devices and various technologies to be sure his daughter wouldn't talk about how she was being used as his sex slave.

Obviously the tracking devices themselves were not the real problem there. Almost anything can be misused.

Re:Everyone focuses on the negative

[QuantumG]

So your solution to avoiding a slippery slope into a totalitarian state is to restrict individual liberty.

Ya, that makes sense.

Individuals should be free to choose if they want to broadcast their location to anyone, or only to their friends.. sometimes or all the time.. the location they choose or a GPS location or an approximation of their location from WiFi towers.. etc. It's the individual choice that matters, not the technology. If you want to stop the slippery slope, stop people who are against individual liberty, not technology.

Re:Tell me again

[geekoid]

Security is about risk assement.
obscurity can be security, just not your only security.

For example, my car door is unlocked right now, can you break in to it? no, becasue it's whereabouts is current obscured from you.

Surreptitious?

[egcagrac0]

If you're concerned about people doing things on your X, don't let them use your X.

Where X is:

• Computer
• Mobile Phone
• Landline
• Network
• Private Key
• Car
• Bedsheets
• Underwear
• Camera
• Sofa
• Hot Tub

Pretty basic trust issues here, folks. If you don't trust someone, don't let them use your stuff.

Danger! Danger!

[pushing-robot]

If I understand TFA correctly, if someone else gains access to your phone and your google login, they can activate Latitude and use it to track you.

Their interpretation of that is: Latitude is dangerous. I'd interpret it as giving others access to your hardware and your account is dangerous.

But that's why I'm just a computer geek and they're a multi-national organization.

What I don't get...

[SvnLyrBrto]

So far as I can tell, Latitude is no different from Buddy Beacon, Loopt, Whrrl, or any of a dozen other GPS-enabled "social networking" apps that'll happily send out your location to whomever you allow. But Latitude, specifically, and apparently only Latitude, is evil and dangerous.

I know hating on Google is the trendy thing these days, but come on.

cya,
john