This was the headline by an article written by Tim Herrera that spoke about the iPhone having a tracking feature that is a part of the phone that sends your location to a server where it is stored but not shared. The NYT also featured an article named “Your iPhone is Tracking You. So What?” concerning this iPhone feature, in which two researchers discovered the iPhone and iPad keep a minute to minute log of where you have been and where you are going.
Apparently many customers already knew about this feature in the phone but did not mind it. For those who recently found out about the tracker they shared in the same feelings of not caring too much. So, it seems that people are used to or are getting used their privacy being taken away from them. The fine line between public and private content has been crossed so many times that it is difficult to pinpoint which is which anymore. The people with iPhones who do not care if their location is transmitted to a server seem to heavily outweigh those who do care. For those who want and wish to maintain some sort of privacy, even if it is with their phone, suffer because more and more people are finding it ok to share personal information. We are slowly moving towards a society that all will be public knowledge. Similar to Josh Harris’ idea behind “We Live in Public.” Just like in Harris’ Big Brother project, people will eventually get fed up with having no privacy whatsoever but by then it will be too late.
What led me to comment on this post was the fact that my coworkers were discussing this exact topic the other day while at work, and I almost didn’t believe it at the time. One worker (who has an iPhone) knew about this and didn’t seem to mind at all that all of his information was constantly logged, but another worker–and I–were very uncomfortable with someone eventually knowing where we had been at all times. Although the information is not sent to Apple or the government, it is stored in our iTunes after every time we sync our device. I’m no computer expert, but I’m pretty sure this kind of thing can be hacked into (probably with a great deal of difficulty, but possible nonetheless) .
Granted, something like this could work in a positive way if we were tracked directly from our device in real time (imagine all the cases of kidnapping that could be solved by just knowing someone’s location at a given time), but it all boils down to the question: What’s more important–our safety or our privacy?
Like you said, it’s gotten to the point that people have become so used to having our privacy infringed upon that a majority of people don’t mind something like this. However, will that uncomfortable minority ever be heard? Or will the likes of my coworker and myself be indirectly “bullied” into being comfortable with having our whole lives on display? On a personal note, if I’m telling my parents that I’m “at the movies with friends” when I’m really traveling to my friend’s apartment in the Bronx at 10:00pm, I don’t want to get caught because of an iPhone. That’s really my only concern, haha.
Every new phone that is being made has a feature for GPS tracking. All mobile phones have GPS-like capabilities without having to be GPS devices. Regardless if its the iPhone or Verizon Droid, etc. I do know that there is a feature on the Droid phone that lets you turn on and off your GPS tracking information. I personally could care less if the tracking system is on or off or continues to stay on if I believe I have turned everything off. I think at times the more we know the more we drive ourselves crazy. Let’s say for instance that we had no idea our tracker was always working and we go on with our lives as we always have. How would our daily routine change if a tracker is locating where we are? It wouldn’t. We would continue going to school, work, stores, etc. Sometimes I feel that the more we know the more it messes with our mind. That’s not to say that I want to be clueless about what’s happening around me or how I am personally being effected with the devices I use, but I just feel that I have a lot more important things to worry about and be concerned with that I won’t loose any sleep if I don’t turn my phone GPS signal off. There is no conspiracy going on, so people need to just take it easy.
Actually the only reason why I turn off my GPS tracker is to save battery life. I’m no government official or person of that much importance that needs to be tracked, so if my location is being recorded, so be it. I actually find that it is useful to keep the GPS signal on. You never know if an accident can occur or whatever the case may be, but if I were stuck somewhere and my only way out was for someone to track my location, I would be pretty greatful. My opinion, worry less about the little stuff and move on. The following article is an interesting take on GPS tracking. thttp://www.gpsfortoday.com/cell-phone-gps-tracking/
As an owner of an iPhone, I have to say that i do not mind this tracking feature because as stated in the article, i feel like i have nothing to hide. There are a million people who own an iPhone and the chances of them just pinpointing you to spy on is rare. I am sure this feature is used for people who commit crimes or lost persons. Neither of which i am, so therefore i do not think this is a bad feature for them to put on the phone. I am also sure that this is added to the phone for the maps application which is able to direct you to where you want to go. When i open this application, it allows me to find a place with my “Current location” in handy. This maps application is very helpful because unlike some other phones, i do not have to scramble and try to find out my exact location if i need directions. The phone is able to use the GPS feature to do it for me which makes it user friendly.Simply stated in the article, I also believe people who mind this feature suffer from anxiety or feel like they are being “watched all the time”. The truth is that we are, its just a matter of accepting or putting it out of your mind. Even in the most remote area where you feel you are alone, there is always someone else there watching you. For me these types of things are unavoidable, its just a matter of not letting it consume your life.
I am definitely not surprised by this article. I do not own an i-phone, I have the mytouch 4g and I feel like its the same thing, basically for all the newest 4g phones with the google maps and GPS capabilities. They might be appealing to everyone and useful, but at the same time they may intrusive.
I always think about things like this, like if this is a way for the govt or companies to have some kind of hold on us or make it easier for them to know who everyone is and where they are, maybe as a safety precaution. I mean it would be very difficult to commit any crime and try to run and hide, if you have a smart phone, even without maps, there are apps like foursquare or other that use the same feature, and while it might be fun for us to use, its fun for the companies to track us for their own purpose. I guess I do not have any big issue with this, as long as I am not being stalked or no one is stealing my identity, then its really not a big deal. It kind of helps to keep an eye on people, and possibly makes it easier to catch to “bad guys”. So I’m not too worried. Hopefully it just doesn’t go any further and get out of hand.
What led me to comment on this post was the fact that my coworkers were discussing this exact topic the other day while at work, and I almost didn’t believe it at the time. One worker (who has an iPhone) knew about this and didn’t seem to mind at all that all of his information was constantly logged, but another worker–and I–were very uncomfortable with someone eventually knowing where we had been at all times. Although the information is not sent to Apple or the government, it is stored in our iTunes after every time we sync our device. I’m no computer expert, but I’m pretty sure this kind of thing can be hacked into (probably with a great deal of difficulty, but possible nonetheless) .
Granted, something like this could work in a positive way if we were tracked directly from our device in real time (imagine all the cases of kidnapping that could be solved by just knowing someone’s location at a given time), but it all boils down to the question: What’s more important–our safety or our privacy?
Like you said, it’s gotten to the point that people have become so used to having our privacy infringed upon that a majority of people don’t mind something like this. However, will that uncomfortable minority ever be heard? Or will the likes of my coworker and myself be indirectly “bullied” into being comfortable with having our whole lives on display? On a personal note, if I’m telling my parents that I’m “at the movies with friends” when I’m really traveling to my friend’s apartment in the Bronx at 10:00pm, I don’t want to get caught because of an iPhone. That’s really my only concern, haha.
Our privacy of our location is being compromised but I think the benefits may weigh more in this case. Like you mentioned this is very beneficial in cases like kidnapping. And even if they find a way to make the phones untraceable, there’s a log of the last place where it was traceable. It’s helpful for parents who want to find runaway kids. Maybe these are extreme cases.
When I used Google Maps on my phone a year ago, I shared my location with my cousins. At first I thought it was foolish and wondered if there was a purpose of then pretty much stalking each other. I was meeting my cousin in the city one day. She often runs late, and with Google Maps, I saw that she was on her way to city, I could calculate the time I should leave to get there at the same time. In the same way, parents can keep track of their kids. I know I would hate for my parents to know where I am 1 in the morning. But I know that when I become a parent some day I’d want to know where my kids are. Not because of trust issues but for safety.
I know couple of people who had lost or got their iphones or blackberrys stolen. Yes some people have insurance, so that can be easily replaced. However not every opted for that option. We spend hundreds to have the best technology, to have it taken it from us in an instant. With tracking systems, we find our phones, and the jerks who stole them.
So yea, I don’t mind that my phone tracks my whereabouts. People are doing it voluntarily already, on Facebook with Foursquare or other types of Check-in apps, which available for the public to see.