Google facing a lawsuit over Android location tracking

01 May, 2011
It appears that Google are to suffer the same troublesome press as Apple have of late, due to the discovery of an Android based tracking system, not too dissimilar to the one recently brought to light on the iPhone 4....

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  • P
  • PeraLozac
  • 3nw
  • 02 May 2011

Now Nokia will release tracking inside buildings.. Niceeeee.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • k75
    • 02 May 2011

    You carry a device with you that puts out a signal and connects to cell towers and Wi-Fi networks every second it's on. EVERYONE knows where you are, duh. The only people this really surprises probably aren't smart enough to bother tracking, so it's a non-issue.

      • D
      • AnonD-4948
      • PBC
      • 02 May 2011

      to me i i dont care, altho i live in NZ still i dont care because i dont have anything to hide, people who complain are the ones who have something to hide from all this

        • D
        • AnonD-977
        • P%n
        • 02 May 2011

        AnonD-291, 01 May 2011Phone networks track everyone , i know that. But they dont ... moreUnless you tick the box in iTunes which encrypts the back up.

        The phone location isn't shown, the database shows the location of celltowers and wifi points so the iPhone can refer to it and get an instant GPS fix, this is how A-GPS works.

        To access it you need physical access to the phone or the computer, if you have that you have access to a lot more things than location data.

          • D
          • AnonD-977
          • P%n
          • 02 May 2011

          kaien, 01 May 2011I think many people here misunderstood the notion "tra... moreThe iPhone keeps a database of celltowers and wifi hotspots, not the location of the phone.

            • D
            • Denzo
            • vCA
            • 02 May 2011

            Fanned apple sucks. Android we knew was gangsta but Apple suck and have let me down. I'm selling my iPhone 4.

              • W
              • Waxx
              • q5$
              • 01 May 2011

              these people must not be smart at all. the only way this will go through is if google didnt provide a notice says you will be tracked.(which they did and stil does) or if google didn't provide sufficient notice for the tracking information(which they DO!!!) so these guy are makin themselves look stupid

              the company to go after is apple since they provided no notice. but even when you get a new iphone there ARE terms and conditions of which you are supposed to read. i do believe location and tracking is in the terms and conditions. and if you did not read them then that is your fault.

              most advanced technologies today do some sort of tracking but does it really matter? NO

              and if you think that the info from your tom tom GPS is not sold. you are SOOOOOOOOOOO WRONG!

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 3H@
                • 01 May 2011

                lmao @ all this panic & conspiracy. Its a load of bollocks.

                Android clearly asks in advance if you want to send data. Any app that wants to access your location data requires your express permission. How do I know this, because I'm an Android app developer.

                The only issue with this whole thing across Apple and Android platforms was the issue of iOS data being stored unencrypted on your phone and PC/Mac.

                Everything else is blind panic, sensationalism and a few opportunistic greedy Americans.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • qE}
                  • 01 May 2011

                  $50 million for "damage"? LOL
                  American greed at best. Is tracking movement anonymously damaging? What is the damage anyway? I don't approve of tracking but what's the damage again?

                    • o
                    • oh dear
                    • 3GB
                    • 01 May 2011

                    people just love to complain! so what if they can track where the phone is . to many people want to be "under the radar" why ?! have you got something to hide?! . besides nearly everything you do in your day to day life can be traceable . whether its buying something using your credit card or making a phone call why don't you sue Microsoft for being able to find where you are using your I.P address or your credit card company for logging all your transactions ..

                      • A
                      • Are u kidding me ..
                      • nCh
                      • 01 May 2011

                      AnonD-5950, 01 May 2011What? Lawsuits?? Google have makes million of people aroun... moreUr kidding right ? Apple is the safest way, they are the ones who never ask or warn you and they certainly dont respect ur privacy, i guess u should check out the guys that caught apple consolidated.db tracking file system. Mac is the most secure because it is the most controled which mean controls its users without them knowing, have fun.

                        • G
                        • Get real!
                        • 4nK
                        • 01 May 2011

                        AnonD-6355, 01 May 2011The only thing all of you have to know is everybody is bein... moreThat's exactly my point!

                        Now, customers start to become aware of it. Many still don't mind, however, they underestimate the danger of the collection and storage of their personal data.

                        In reality, there is no need to submit and store information to Apple, Google or anyone else for that matter at all! Sure, GPS has to communicate with my phone, so do cell phone towers, however, making this data 'anonym' afterwards and storing them, what would be the point other than selling them out afterwards?

                          • D
                          • AnonD-6355
                          • mwm
                          • 01 May 2011

                          The only thing all of you have to know is everybody is being tracked every day and every move you do..by your bank cards, phones, gsm providers, your laptops etc.... do you think it will stop....no...
                          Tracing you, "can" be for your benefit one day but if the info gets in wrong hands you can be in realy deep sh$&.....
                          Everyone must know, there is no privacy no more, because of the bad guys on the planet..
                          I don't know what to say.....GOD, SAVE US..........

                            • a
                            • abid
                            • LhW
                            • 01 May 2011

                            its not only android if you use google chrome it also collects all details of the site you visit and your search on any engine. which is not fair. they are breaching your privacy. they need to more money on their browser to users

                              • m
                              • mix
                              • mNk
                              • 01 May 2011

                              and that's why i love my N e71! nothing like this is done without my knowledge ;]

                                • N
                                • NO SUCH THING ASFREE
                                • I4t
                                • 01 May 2011

                                its a breach of privacy, period...........

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-4367
                                  • mE}
                                  • 01 May 2011

                                  Get real!, 01 May 2011Well, many comments on here lack a lot of knowledge. Howev... moreIt seems your missing some knowledge, even if android uses cell phone towers to traingulate you, it will ask you before sending anything, and please do not say anything else other than that cause i owned android devices since 2009.

                                    • S
                                    • Steve
                                    • Lg8
                                    • 01 May 2011

                                    I am not happy with it :( I should have bought Nokia or RIM instead of that samsung Google crap!

                                      • r
                                      • risah
                                      • N7D
                                      • 01 May 2011

                                      AnonD-977, 01 May 2011More like buying a car then refusing to start it because ac... moreman! this guys comment made my day

                                        • L
                                        • Links!
                                        • j0b
                                        • 01 May 2011

                                        I'm always happy to see ordinary people willing to fight for what little privacy we have left. There should be a balance and I hope this is a lesson to other companies that privacy still matters. I'm not sure of the intentions by Google and Apple. I'm just hoping that that stronger privacy policies come from this and more ethical behavior practiced by companies that hold so much of our data!