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For its part, Google confirmed that Android devices do indeed collect location data regardless of whether or not a user opts out of location tracking features. Google said the practice was the result of a feature that would have improved the speed and performance of message delivery.
With a device connected to the internet, it then transmits the address of a nearby cellphone tower, which provides an approximate location. If multiple towers are involved, however, a location can be triangulated within about a quarter-mile radius.
This.So what?
So what?
I concur.This.
Cant you just turn your phone off?
But yes, I agree Google privacy sucks. I dont even use there browser. I disable as much Google as possible to reduce the nonsense.
You can't just post a headline like this and some links without putting up some general context. We know most people don't bother clicking the links and now simply think Google is spying on them.
In other words, it is meant to keep triangulation of your current position to deliver messages to you quicker and wasn't more accurate than at best a quarter mile of your actual position.
The actual tracking feature uses your GPS which is obviously far more detailed and a greater risk given that google maps, for example, saves all of that tracking as a full detailed history of all movement you make and stores that somewhere. That risk, however low, of someone including the government being able to hack into or otherwise access that has valid privacy concerns.
A system that uses cell tower triangulation to figure out where your device is so it can communicate with it seems FAR less risky. It isn't stored anywhere (that is reported here anyway).
I keep my tracking and history on on purpose. I do a fair amount of travel for work and have had to prove my travel more than once. It is used to justify some of my expense reports. I'm just not worried about the government or some other entity tapping into that.
Yup, corporations suck. Especially the ones that pretend to be all socially wonderful. That is until it starts costing them money. When they cant pass those expenses on to consumers all of a sudden those causes get swept under the rug. It is all good when they can pat themselves on the back and make everyone think they are changing the world. That only lasts until it goes against there interests. Half the time they say they are doing something and then only start it, make it public so everyone thinks they are doing it and then dont follow through if there is not another PR opportunity down the road.