Google and Apply Know Where You Are, Maybe

It is common nowadays to depend on the smartphones to track the location. There are various apps using by the society for good purposes. Anyway, how about bad purposes? Have you ever think about it? People make good use of the tracking software located on smartphones smartphone from looking up directions to a hotel to checking the local traffic updates while in route to work. However, they might be unclear that those locations are actually stored in the smartphones. The stored list can be used to send out local ads or be used to target that individual. Hence, everyone must be aware of location-based tracking software.

1.      Location-based tracking is common to all smartphones, for good reason or bad, the popular location-based service company Foursquare has an app so you can check in at various locations to receive discounts, become Mayor, and see who else might be there. DealLeak which aggregates deals from the likes of Groupon and Living Social, needs your location in order to offer local discounts on products and services to you. How many location-based service apps do you have on your smartphone? How often do you use them and why?

 

Frankly speaking, my smartphone does not have much app for location tracking and I seldom have used them. I have three location-based application on my smartphone, that are, Google Maps, GPS and Facebook. Facebook “check in” function is a good app for me to show my happiness with others when I go to somewhere special or events. Sometimes, I can tag my friends in to share the joy or excitement. The GPS and Google Maps are for the convenience to search a location where I never been. However, some places are not updated in the systems which has made me lost in the town few times. Hence, I have made a habit to check the location properly one day before departure. It will help to avoid lost in somewhere similar location place name but totally different locations.

2.      Apple and Google defended their processes by stating that their privacy policies very clearly stated what information would be gathered, how that information would be used, and how and with whom that information might be shared. When was the last time you read the privacy policy of any technology tool, such as a Web browser or app? Do you think very many people actually read these? Do the disclaimers in these privacy polices give the offering organization the right to do anything with your information?

A privacy policy is a statement or legal document that discloses some or all the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client’s data. It states how an individual’s information will be used. To be honest, I never read the policies of any technology tool and I don’t believe many people actually read these privacy policies. Accordingly, I believe that the policies do state that the related organization can use you information and once you sign it, indicated that you are agreed to it. A lot of the time, a company that in fact does use your information, explicitly defines the use within the policies that the consumer must agree to.  Social networking through websites and email has to be tracked anyway, so why wouldn’t a company that is forced legally to retain that information not use it to their advantage?

3.      What about location-based tracking in car systems like GM’s OnStar? Those systems know the car’s location to give you driving directions and perhaps identify local restaurants or other venues. Are you comfortable with this? When was the last time you bought a paper map? How much do you rely on your car’s GPS system?

In Malaysia, OnStar is not popular and frankly speaking that I totally have no idea about it. I searched thru the best tool, Google and found the information below. According to Google, OnStar systems have been proven to be extremely helpful in emergency situations. OnStar provides subscription based communications, in-vehicle security, hands free calling, turn-by-turn navigation and remote diagnostics systems which are very welcomed by U.S, Canada and China. A new aftermarket interior rear-view mirror with a built-in OnStar module, branded as OnStar FMV, became available to the public on July 24, 2011. It provides some of the features an OEM system has, such as Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Tracking, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, and Roadside Assistance. Besides, drivers and passengers can use OnStar’s audio interface to contact OnStar representatives for emergency services, vehicle diagnostics and directions. However, in daily, it can be used to identify local restaurants or other venues as well. It will bring additional benefits to the users. If OnStar is available in Malaysia and I am not necessary to buy GM vehicles, I would find it useful and comfortable as it seems like an invisible body guard to me. However, a body guard could be hazardous to me also, if I am lucky enough to be targeted by someone doing bad thing.

4.      What about smartphone tracking for parents who want to know where their children are and where they’ve been? Minors under the age of 18 have very few privacy rights, especially when it comes to parents’ knowledge of where they are. Are parents going too far in wanting to know where their children are? What are the benefits of such systems for parents? For the children? What does the term “helicopter parent” refers to?

Parents nowadays have no difficulties or gap in knowing where is their children or where have been going to. It gives the authority to parents of monitoring the children. But however, in my opinion, I feel that a parent should use all the available resources to understand their children’s curiosities and be able to address them appropriately with ample knowledge.  By knowing where the children have gone to, the parents should not only forbid the children to go somewhere, but by telling them when is the right time to go. A parent can’t stop his children from going pub or karaoke while he is doing the same thing. However, the parents should spend more time with the children. For example, bringing them to travel during holidays or a small picnic gathering during weekends. Tracking system in smartphone has brought to the parents of monitoring but it does not bring family happiness. Hence, the parents should use the tracking system wisely and make improvement from it. From the searching result of Google, a helicopter parent is one that pays close attention to their children's experiences and problems socially and within their educational experience, similar to how a helicopter would hover.