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Verizon Plans Location Warning Sticker
nonprofiteer writes "After all the location tracking drama, Verizon tells Congress that 'it's going to start slapping a surgeon-general-type warning on the phones it sells: Using this device could be hazardous to your location privacy, and may result in your being tracked!' The actual warning (PDF) is a little drier — illustration with story."
There is no way this is going to put on any iPhone Verizon sells.
... when they do the phone setup. Thus freeing you from ever having to see it.
People are lazy and don't care, until it affects them directly. Like those EULAs, no one reads them, even if you might be agreeing to Apple performing biological experiments on you.
So the way it works is as long as they post a warning label on it they can do it? Look for: WARNING: We may listen to all your calls, read all your text messages, and beat your highscores on Angry Birds
Hmm... Telecoms can track your physical location without installing anything on your phone. Apple and Google can't because they don't have raw data from the towers. Verizon does.
15 Stupidest Warning Labels: http://www.oddee.com/item_88437.aspx
I'm glad Verizon is stepping up, and that this is their idea rather than some random bureaucratic regulation. If, as you say, "People are lazy and don't care," then it's not like a law would do any better than Verizon's warning anyway.
I saw it on Slashdot, it must be true!
"By clicking yes, you agree to have your mouth sewn to another Verizon's user's butthole..."
For-Those-Without-an-iPhone
Hey, can we get that sentence in english?
Meanwhile, this fits every smartphone carried by verizon, from android to microsoft to apple. surprise?
For those too lazy to go RTFA, here is the actual text of the warning label:
"Remove Before Use This device is capable of determining its (and your) physical, geographical location and can associate this location data with other customer information. To limit access to location information by others, refer to the User Guide for Location settings and be cautious when downloading, accessing or using applications and services."
Dry, but straightforward.
How long until there is an app that intentionally provides bogus location information to the API, and inserts bogus data into the location history files?
Was it just me or did TFAs say that it was law for telcos to store location data on everyone for years?
I realize the systems need to keep track of where you are in a cell network so that they can send you information but what law says this data must be stored in case there is ever a LEA inquery at some point in the future?
Instead of putting a warning, can I have a provider that just doesn't track me? That lets me turn tracking on and off when I need it for a specific application, or track on a specific application basis?
The shit we get ourselves riled up about is downright depressing.
I'll note that prior to cell phones, every time you used your phone, the telco already had location info on you - the service address!
The linked to letter states that "Protecting our customers privacy is our primary concern" or something to that effect. If that were true, then why not do something that disables the ability to track the individual customer. A stupid sticker doesn't seem that their concern is that great.
Verizon is the second largest cell phone company in the US. They should be able to have some clout with what the phones do and don't do and what the applications do and don't do.
I'd switch in a minute if Verizon started offering phones that actually protected my privacy. I imagine millions of others would, too.
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, the cell towers have to know roughly where you are in order to route your calls, sms messages and even to make your phone ring. The only difference I can see is that this info is now being stored on your phone, why is that a problem? We are all carrying round this bit of grey matter which is doing the exact same thing.
It is still just possible to not be tracked if you follow this advice.
Don't use a credit card, and don't use a cell phone, don't even carry one, and don't use social networking of any kind, don't use any store based loyalty cards, don't have or use a bank account, buy everything with cash, work strictly cash in hand for someone who doesn't want or need to see your national insurance number or social security number, don't use or own a car use public transport instead, never fly anywhere, don't have any subscription based TV or radio services in fact don't have any subscription services such as land line phone or internet, Don't respond to any mail that drops through your door. In fact it might be best to be homeless or sleep in a tent.
Get Real people, just about everything we do in modern life allows us to be tracked in some way or other, why should a cache file used to help the phone and its application know roughly where it is make any difference?
If you are not breaking the law then you have nothing to hide. If you are breaking the law then be worried, be worried about the fact that we are all leaving DNA trails behind us all the time in the form of skin particulates and hairs. Be very worried because big brother is watching and recording, but also know that if you are not in the spotlight then he doesn't care.
So we assume by "phone" you mean "cell phone" which presumably connects to "cell towers". Since when is this information not already logged and gathered by the telcos running the towers? If you're worried about "location privacy", how about not carrying around a device which broadcasts a unique ID that's collected by third parties?
Yes, this is already a matter of a either a phone or complete privacy.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
Does cell-based location tracking on a phone give companies more visibility than potential location tracking in the network? The latter can be done invisibly without anyone ever coming to know. And telcos have personally identifying data. I'm probably missing something.
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about...
It's an Apple story.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about...
It's an Apple story.
But its an android story too
And keep it out when not in use (it also makes the batteries last longer) I also keep my phone in a small waterproof case (Otterbox) with a conductive inner coating (that I added).
I killed da wabbit -Elmer Fudd
Not very practical, is it?
It's a smartphone, so you're using for a lot more than just phone calls, otherwise you wasted your money.
And then you have to power it down every time you're "done using it", take it out of the case (if it's in one), remove the battery cover, remove the battery, and store the battery and put the cover back on and put it back in the case. Then reverse all of those steps when you want to use it again. Not worth it.
...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
I also live inside a giant faraday cage, and I don't have a connection to the mains water supply - that's how they get the tracer chemicals into you.
I am not on the electricity grid either, since the EM fields control my brain.
I also never use coupons at the store. That's how they track you!!
People are lazy and don't care, until it affects them directly. Like those EULAs, no one reads them, even if you might be agreeing to Apple performing biological experiments on you.
Um, dude, what are you talking about?
All of us read the agreement. Who doesn't read the agreement?
It's a very stupid "smartphone" I got it for $40.00 from ConsumerCellular.com, and it's really only for emergencies!
I killed da wabbit -Elmer Fudd