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Google's Find My Device Tool Can Now Map Out Exactly Where You Left Your Phone Inside Some Buildings (androidpolice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the interesting-updates dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Google's been messing around with indoor maps for years; you can check the layout of many department stores and other large indoor spaces in Google Maps. Find My Device can show on those maps where your device is located. Here's the changelog for the latest version: "Support for indoor maps to help you find your device in airports, malls, or other large buildings. And, Support for work profiles."

28 comments

  1. So they just retrieve the last place they by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 2

    tracked you.

    For once it might benefit the end user, but really they just want to help you get your tracking device back.

    -We passed creepy a long time ago.

    1. Re:So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You understand that they did this on Star Trek, right? You could ask the computer the location of any other crew member, and it would tell you. So this is OK.

    2. Re:So they just retrieve the last place they by PsychoSlashDot · · Score: 2

      You understand that they did this on Star Trek, right? You could ask the computer the location of any other crew member, and it would tell you. So this is OK.

      You may mean this sarcastically, but I think it's potentially insightful.

      Back when ST:TNG came out there was a lot of this sort of thing, but it never felt creepy Maybe it's because the only people who ever were shown asking the ship's computer for things like that were doing so for legitimate purposes or were high-ranking bridge crew. In real life, it's massive corporations doing it for profit and advertising, where advertising is a code-word for "influencing people to spend money they wouldn't otherwise."

      --
      "Oh no... he found the .sig setting."
    3. Re: So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is to remind you that you just sat at a coffee counter for two hours, if you werenâ(TM)t depressed enough from losing your phone

    4. Re: So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So someone has a phone with a microscopic camera?

    5. Re:So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You understand that they did this on Star Trek, right? You could ask the computer the location of any other crew member, and it would tell you. So this is OK.

      The federation is a quasi military outfit. TNG blurred the line there a bit, but when pushed comes to shove they would have to get the job done. Basically you have less rights to privacy if your on active duty. Also, your in space. Not being able to find someone might in itself carry risks, particularly if they needed to evacuate.

      Basically, I don't think its a fair comparison.

    6. Re: So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      The federation is a Communist outfit.

      FTFY.

    7. Re:So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... particularly if they needed to evacuate.

      You mean like their bowels?

    8. Re:So they just retrieve the last place they by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Additionally, the computer didn't track people except when asked to, so people were able to move about freely, and knew their location would only be tracked if a human was interested at that point in time.

      "Computer locate "
      " is not on the enterprise"

      rather than
      "Captain, has suddenly become untrackable"

  2. Obligatory Dilbert by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://dilbert.com/strip/2011-05-27

    1. Re:Obligatory Dilbert by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      Anyone who has ever had a phone stolen or lost and turns off data and location when not using them actively to save battery (my S7 cannot last the day with data on, budget phones are better for battery life than my flagships!) knows that Google cannot spy on on me unless I ask them to.

      Repeat, turning off data and location results in an unfindable phone, combine this with all of the FRP bypasses and bugs, and you realise, Google can only spy if you let them. Otherwise, I'd still have the S5 and a Z Ultra on my belt with the S7, HTC ONE M9, and Tab S which all behave the same way if you turn off data.

      At the time, I wished Google was spying on me! I would have at least been able to chase my S5 and confront the criminals. The reason Google give for this loophole? Privacy. This silly argument is killing me!

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    2. Re: Obligatory Dilbert by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      I logged out of Google on my Android phone. I don't use Gmail. Google probably has a level of tracking they can still do, but it's significantly reduced. The Amazon app store and other alternatives have plenty of apps.

  3. Of course, that means Google knows where you are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That means Google is spying on your location at all times.

    Surprise, surprise, surprise.

    Why stop at being merely evil? Go whole hog and sell out to totalitarian governments, too!

  4. I don't know if this is a good thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you may want to consider that it also means all government agencies can literally track your typical day-to-day movements, possibly down to within 10 feet, within 10 minutes, and almost predict where you will be at any future time, if the pattern holds.

    Most of us don't care about that, but the prospect of it is scary.

  5. Google can tell partners your shopping habits... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There. Fixed the headline for you. And I'm sure if pressed Google will issue some weasel worded statement that they don't share customer specifics with partners, just "anonymized" data that "improves customer experience". I smile and nod at most conspiracy theories but I'm coming to the point where I think owning a Google device or using their software/services is insanity. Part of me hopes I'm just getting old and yelling at clouds but that's getting harder and harder.

  6. Re: Of course, that means Google knows where you a by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Get used to disappointment google. Check your EULA

  7. And if you're a poor surgeon by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    You can figure out which patient you left it in!

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
    1. Re:And if you're a poor surgeon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and the last time he did a crap and where.

  8. whew! by AndyKron · · Score: 0

    I must have done something right. Google can't find it even though the app is installed.

    1. Re: whew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're only pretending they can't find it.

  9. Knock knock by puddingebola · · Score: 0

    "Yes? You're from the Google Police? What are the Googl..." (sound of silencer on gun firing 3 times).

  10. Ugh, thanks Google... maybe by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    I'd feel better about this if they'd also spell out exactly who else can access this sort of information about Android phone owners - but I suspect the honest answer would be "everyone with a business relationship with Google".

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  11. For those that don't know by BringsApples · · Score: 1

    This is an app that you knowingly install and setup to use in case you need to find your device. It's not installed by default. It's not Big Brutha.

    Have a Happy Thanksgiving!! ...if that's a thing that you do this time of year :)

    --
    Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    1. Re:For those that don't know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The tracking is installed by default. The part that isn't installed is the app that lets you actually view your devices location.

      As far as I've noticed with my devices I haven't had to do anything special for it to be able to locate my devices.

  12. whistle key chain by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

    In the 80s I had a key chain that would beep every time you whistled. I lost it some where in my bedroom and even though I could here it beep I could never find it I think it fell into a vent somehow. Every time Walk Like an Egyptian came on the radio and later Patience it would go crazy. I never did find it even with the room empty when I was moving out years later and the battery never died.

    It says the phone is on the couch it must have fallen down inside and now it lost forever along with the half dozen missing tv remotes.

    1. Re: whistle key chain by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      I had a defective stopwatch that I bought at a yard sale this summer. The stopwatch function didn't seem to work at all. I paid a quarter for it, so it wasn't any big deal. But then it landed somewhere in the house in a junk pile. And somehow the alarm function started working at about 11 pm. So every night I heard it beeping until a timeout, but could never locate it by the timeout. By then I had forgotten entirely about the stopwatch so I really wasn't even certain what I was looking for. It also emitted a single beep once an hour at about the :40 point. It took me days to finally track down and figure out what was beeping once an hour and alarming every night.

  13. Re: Of course, that means Google knows where you a by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do you hate a capitalist company for making more money, you pinko Marxist bastard?