They know where you are!

 

I have become all too familiar with the web asking for information. Social networking sites ask “what are you thinking right now?” Twitter wants you to tell people what you are doing right now….

This information has proved relatively harmless so far but more and more of the giants like Google are asking “where are you right now?”. Hang on. What do you want to know that for? What are you going to do with this information?

Gelocation data is protected under the data protection act but are we sure it won’t find it’s way to places that are not controlled by these laws?

Your location information is taken from GPS, mobile triangulation or WiFi access points. Not too much of a problem most would think, some like the idea of loading an app that tells them where their friends are in case they are close and can bump into them. Personally, I’d rather arrange to meet instead of presuming they will be happy to see me.

Seems quite clever and probably looks harmless to have a location note on our tweets unless your tweeting from work and your boss sees your location.

Harmless enough? How about this one: I buy a new SatNav. During the setup I am greeted with all those screens full of disclaimers etc. Like most people I ignore them and just keep hitting yes and continue so I can hurry up and try out my new gadget.

Unfortunately one of the screens asked me to agree to send location data. Now I am broadcasting where I am without knowing how that data is going to be used. What if the SatNav company sell my information to my insurance company? My insurance company has a bunch of boffins who might analyse my movements and decide that I am a higher risk due to the places I visit. Before I know it I have a letter from them increasing my premiums or worse still denying me cover. Do I have the ability to dispute this? What if there has been a data error and the insurer is working from misinformation?

When a cold caller rings my home trying to save me money by selling me something, I am in control. I ask for their home telephone number so I can call them back when it is convenient for me. Usually does the trick… With Gelocation data I don’t get the chance to put it back on them or ask what they will do with the information.

Are you happy for companies to hoard data about your movements?

Let me know!

Ernie