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Signed-In Maps Mean More Location Data For Google

mikejuk writes The announcement on the Google Geo Developers blog has the catchy title No map is an island. It points out that while there are now around 2 million active sites that have Google Maps embedded, they store data independently, The new feature, called attributed save, aims to overcome this problem by creating an integrated experience between the apps you use that have map content and Google Maps, and all it requires is that users sign in. So if you use a map in a specific app you will be able to see locations you entered in other apps.This all sounds great and it makes sense to allow users to take all of the locations that have previously been stored in app silos and put them all together into one big map data pool. The only down side is that the pool is owned by Google and some users might not like the idea of letting Google have access to so much personal geo information. It seems you can have convenience or you can have privacy. It might just be that many users prefer their maps to be islands.

7 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. If people don't want Google to have their info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Then why are they signed into Google?

  2. Networked machine? An "island"? Get real... by fustakrakich · · Score: 2

    Push all the buttons you want to try to turn this shit off. You're only fooling yourself if you think it does anything.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  3. Data ownership by Animats · · Score: 3, Funny

    all it requires is that users sign in

    Or, all your base is belong to us.

  4. I can't speak for others, obviously by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    But while I see the advantages for Google Corp., I don't see how this really benefits me personally. It's getting more common for websites to trigger the Safari popup saying "xxx.yyy.zzz would like to use your location data, is that okay?" when generally there's no reason for them to need it at all.

    This just seems like a big end-around on Google's part to try capturing more data on you.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  5. Re:You can just not sign in then by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

    Jeez. If you dont like it, don't sign in.

    Yeah, don't use Gmail if you don't want to be tracked all over the damn web when you're visiting sites that aren't owned by Google!

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  6. Old news by Amorymeltzer · · Score: 4, Informative

    It seems you can have convenience or you can have privacy.

    We're just figuring this out now? Convenience means letting someone do something in your place. If you want it to be at all useful then some information has to be passed on. A drive through may be convenient, but it requires letting people know your meal preferences; not a major deal for most but it's there. The issue becomes the balance of the two and ensuring that you aren't "forced" out of your own comfort level, but it's certainly not news that there is a give and take between convenience and personal privacy.

    --
    I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
  7. OpenStreetMap by hobarrera · · Score: 2

    Good thing we have OpenStreetMap which just keeps getting better and better.