Google Latitude Goodbye Privacy

FAQ: How Google Latitude locates you


How does Latitude do that? Google is using technology that's similar to that of Skyhook Wireless in its Latitude service. Like Skyhook, it is a software-only location solution that allows any mobile device with Wi-Fi, GPS or a cellular radio to determine its position with an accuracy of 10 to 20 meters. What sets XPS apart is that it uses land-based Wi-Fi access points, GPS satellites and cellular towers to determine location information.


So how did you get these land based wi fi access points ? Oh , I forgot. You already said in a previous article. You drove a bunch of trucks down the street and made a map of the country. Did you ask their permission to use their access point to assist in the largest invasion of privacy known to man so that you could make a fast buck ? No , of course not. Don't be foolish. You just drove your trucks by and took whatever you wanted.

So lets recap.

You have to opt into the system, unless someone at Google either gets bribed or thinks they can make a fast buck selling your location , in which case you don't.

Someone takes your phone , or it's your bosses phone , he can opt in for you. He can also load it up with spy ware (as per the previous blog entry) and listen in on your every conversation read your every sms message. And now they can track your location too.

Which means if your one of those people who's on call all the time and you have to have your company phone with you all the time, I guess you can't go job hunting after your boss tells you off one day ,or he'll fire you if he finds you in the competitions building taking a job interview. *grins*

It is an interesting contrast.

Communistic China does this sort of thing for the State to maintain control of the people , make sure dissident opinions are not expressed or spread around, protect the party rah rah rah.

In the west, we commit this sort of violation of privacy and allow people to be threatenned and coerced by such information for reasons of making a profit. Say anything you want against the government , but show up at a baseball game on a day you called in sick and you're going to catch heck.