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Google Takes Over NYC's Free WiFi Project

Posted by Soulskill on from the ok-google-get-me-some-wifi dept.

dkatana writes: Google's new Smart Cities venture Sidewalk Labs announced the purchase of Intersection, the new company behind the LinkNYC project. nGoogle wants to speed up the developing of free internet access to New York residents and visitors, as a way to gather more information about their activities. Users of the pylons will provide the company invaluable data about their habits, places they visit, and browsing activity.

As part of the original LinkNYC plan, Intersection is scheduled to start deploying the new ad-supported, locally manufactured, WiFi 'pylons' this fall, reaching all five boroughs of the city. It will be the largest and fastest free municipal WiFi system in the world. After that, the company plans to start rolling out similar initiatives in other U.S. cities, but details have not been made public yet.

9 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Soon Google will know everything about us all by NotDrWho · · Score: 2

    And double plus good it will be!

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. I hope it rolls out in more cities by psergiu · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hope it rolls out in more cities until it reaches mine.

    Google can extract whatever habitual information he wants from my VPN connection over their free WiFi.
    I'll make sure to stream data from /dev/urandom while i'm not actively using the connection, so they can have more information about me.

    Thank You Google !

    --
    1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
    1. Re: I hope it rolls out in more cities by psergiu · · Score: 2

      This is /.
      People here are supposed to know how to configure their own VPN servers.
      But i see that for some people it's too hard to even create an account, so they post as ACs ;-)

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
    2. Re:I hope it rolls out in more cities by psergiu · · Score: 4, Interesting

      1) Random BSSID generator at every reconnect.

      2) In fact, i would very much like to see relevant & useful ads. Right now, almost none of the ads i see are useful for me.
      Example: I bought a car last month. Now half of my ads are about car sales. Thank you very much - i already have the car, i don't need another. I would like to see ads about accessories and add-ons for my new car. But noooo. New cars only.

      I wish there was a page in the Google profile settings where you can enter keywords for the ad engine so the displayed ads are for something useful i could really click on. (claiming prior art)

      Continuing the car example - i'll happily tell Google about my cars, the mileage & last service dates - i would not mind seeing ads about: Your 20xx Kia needs a oil change in the next 2 weeks, how about going to "Nearby Service Company" - oil change & tire rotation for only $number using coupon code GOOGLEOWNSYOU

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
    3. Re:I hope it rolls out in more cities by chihowa · · Score: 2

      In fact, i would very much like to see relevant & useful ads. Right now, almost none of the ads i see are useful for me.

      You would very much like to see relevant & useful ads, or you would very much like to stop seeing irrelevant & useless ads?

      Because while the latter is true for me and most of the people that I know, the former is not quite so popular and doesn't necessarily follow from the latter. A much more palatable way to see fewer irrelevant & useless ads would be to stop seeing so many ads altogether. The more Google's hand touches things, the less likely that is to ever happen.

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
  3. It is no longer a "free" WiFi project by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2

    Users will be paying for it with google doing a wholesale collection of private data from those who use it.

  4. Subway...? by nine-times · · Score: 2

    As a NYC resident, I appreciate the idea of free WiFi. I especially like the idea of having some kind of free Internet access for people who can't afford it, since... really... it's getting more and more of a disadvantage to not have access. I think Internet access should be considered linked to issues of economic opportunity, of public safety, and of free speech rights (your freedom of speech is hindered by not having access to telecommunications infrastructure).

    But if I'm honest, the biggest thing I'd like to see for my own benefit is some kind of Internet access for the subway. Some subway stations get cell phone reception, depending on your carrier. Reception in the tunnels themselves is a bit of a rarity. Given that subway rides can take a couple of hours, it'd be nice to expect some kind of wireless access during that time.

    1. Re:Subway...? by tompaulco · · Score: 4, Insightful

      your freedom of speech is hindered by not having access to telecommunications infrastructure

      Nope, your freedom of speech is not dependent upon any particular means of expression. You can stand on the street corner and express your views, but nobody is required to buy you a megaphone, or internet access, or Reuters.

      --
      If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
    2. Re:Subway...? by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2

      Cell reception, at least with T-Mobile, works quite well in Boston's subways.