By 
Unlike Apple’s collecting of location data from iPhone users, Google allows users of their Android operating system to opt in and out of data collection. If that one caveat alone was not enough to put your mind at ease, perhaps a bit of clarification of how and why Google collects data will. When an Android phone is booted up for the first time, a unique ID called a “platform key” is created. This platform key is a string of numbers and letters tied directly to your phone, and a new one is generated every time you perform a factory reset. It is similar to the Android ID used by developers to keep track of scores in games and other app data.
The platform key, as Google has defended, does not come associated with any personal info such as phone number or email and provides Google no way of identifying more than where a certain phone is at any given time. Not being able to place a name or face with the platform key means Google could never use the data to perform some sort of Big Brother tracking of individuals or pinpoint a specific person’s whereabouts. They could find a phone, but not knowing who it belongs to Google could never actively seek out any individual user. What Google does use the collected information for is tracking things like traffic flow for use in Google Maps.
If you still want to wear a tin hat, feel free to double check that you have opted out of sharing your location data with Google. We don’t blame. Google has a history of questionable data collection at the price of user privacy. With Android location data, we don’t really see the problem.
[via WSJ]
On my Samsung Captivate (or “Sammy Cappy” for the retarded), it is Settings –> Search –> Google Search –> [x] Use My Location.
But on an iPhone (iPhony) I don’t know if there is a way to disable it.
You can disable it on an “iPhony” its a function of the power button called: “turning it off” (turny ity offiny?)
Ha
You can turn it off by taking your iPhone out of its case and actually holding it. lol.
I think it is too complicany for a iPhony user.
Once again Mr. Jobs will reply ” No, not tracking” just like he did for death grip” No, not a problem” and there would be a round of applause from the fan boys. “It’s not tracking if he says so.”
To turn off location services in iPhone:
Settings–> Location Services —> Location Services: OFF
The idea that Apple is tracking phones is absurd FUD. The file in question is a cell tower and wifi access point cache for GPS-A triangulation.
Apple has issued a statement about the controversy. Here’s a link:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110427005749/en/Apple-QA-Location-Data
The iPhone continues to log despite turning off location services. You should read the article you posted. Even then people where not aware of what Apple where actually doing so how would they know to turn of location services.
Its not about triangulation but privacy. At no point did Apple tell people this is happening and the opt out/opt in should occur when the device is first started after a factory reset. Having a years worth of this data on a device is reckless, if I lose or get my device stolen it would be easy to determine where I live, where I work, when I am at home etc. Not only where people unaware of this feature but there are
What should happen if I opt in or don’t opt out is my personal data should be limited on the device and a generic cell/wifi map downloaded onto my device.
Apple have effectively admitted too critical bugs which involve very personal data which they never even told people they where storing.
@macsbac,
Actually, you should read the article.
First, the data is not phone location data. It is cell tower and wifi location data.
Second, the data is not collected by the iPhone. It is downloaded from Apple’s cell tower and wifi location database to the phone.
Third, it only infers that the phone was in the general vicinity of one of these points at some time in the past. There is only one entry for each cell tower or wifi signal, so it cannot be used to track comings or goings.
BTW, your credit card company collects more information about your whereabouts each time you buy something for f**k’s sake. Are you concerned that using your credit card is an invasion of your privacy?
Lastly, Apple has freely admitted that the cache was not purged properly and was backed up via iTunes. They have proposed changes that are more than satisfactory and which demonstrate a good faith effort to make their customers happy.
Personally, I don’t think this was a bug. I just think that the developers at Apple didn’t consider that keeping cell tower coordinates on the phone would freak people out the way it has. I am not personally freaked out by it at all. But then, I am not a Phandroid looking for any excuse to vilify Apple.
“First, the data is not phone location data. It is cell tower and wifi location data.”
Cell and wifi data is location data. Subtle hint Apple are using this data to determine your location.
“Second, the data is not collected by the iPhone. It is downloaded from Apple’s cell tower and wifi location database to the phone.”
Really then perhaps you can explain the database consolidated.db backed up on itunes which contains not only cell tower and wifi info but latitude and longitude data with corresponding time data.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bu80fkm9TM
Shows the extent of the data recorded by an iPhone.
http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/
To see the data your iPhone has recorded about your location.
“Third, it only infers that the phone was in the general vicinity of one of these points at some time in the past. There is only one entry for each cell tower or wifi signal, so it cannot be used to track comings or goings.”
This is not true as iPhone tracker clearly demonstrates. It links general location information with time. In the case of wifi access point that could be as accurate as 10 meters.
It also tracks the compass indicating every time you have used your mapping application.
“BTW, your credit card company collects more information about your whereabouts each time you buy something for f**k’s sake. Are you concerned that using your credit card is an invasion of your privacy?”
I would have no problem sharing my location data with Apple, Google, Microsoft or a credit card company. As long as I know about it, as long as its encrypted and secure and I have an opt in or out option.
When stopped by the police in the US they have a right to examine all data on your device and already have applications to examine the iPhone log which can be used in a prosecution against you without a court order.
Not only that if you are syncing your iphone on a public computer it could be public available.
“Lastly, Apple has freely admitted that the cache was not purged properly and was backed up via iTunes. They have proposed changes that are more than satisfactory and which demonstrate a good faith effort to make their customers happy.”
They haven’t acted in good faith or they would have told us about this when it was released and they still have not admitted to the extent of the data being captured or as the reasoning why it was being captured. As a software developer I am fully aware that databases like this do not occur or persist over multiple devices as a result of a bug.
The controversy is most about storing the information on your phone in a file that was pretty easy to access. Able to be accessed by people who might want to track where you have been. If it was information to improve your current phone service, why didn’t the cache clear when the phone was turned off? And what possible reason would there be for the information to back up to your computer? Yeah, now the story is….there was a bug. Guess we won’t need to be hearing about BUGGY Android phones anymore.
Oh my God,
You Phandroids are true religious zealots or both.
What do you mean “Yeah, now the story is….there was a bug”? This is Apple’s first communication since the FUD fest started. Apple has owned up to the problem and described the fixes that are coming. In what Phandroid bizarro universe is this not a good thing?
You just look like a fool who does not know what they are talking about now.
I didn’t know about this until I started installing custom roms on my phone. The problem is that the associate behind the counter does the initial setup for you and probably just clicks …. NEXT, NEXT, NEXT, FIRST BORN, NEXT, NEXT, NEXT and doesn’t give a rats-a$$ about what’s happening to YOUR phone. Keep this in mind the next time you buy a phone from a cell store.
Don’t you have to log into your google account before the opt in or out for this. Surely the cell store doesn’t log you into your google account.
You can turn it off on the iPhone by buying an android… done!
From the frying pan into the fire! Good
Plan…
Google have a clear opt out that actually works. They make you aware that they are recording your position to use in their services in a secure manner. At least with Android you know whats going on and have an opt out/in option. Clearly from this and previous posts you have no idea what Google or Apple are recording, even resorting to making stuff up and now resorting to idioms without substance. Weak.
“The platform key, as Google has defended, does not come associated with any personal info such as phone number or email and provides Google no way of identifying more than where a certain phone is at any given time!”
this one is funny… no, in fact this is ridiculous !
they have everything they need to make this identification.
and by the way, even if they couldn’t do it today, google’s privacy policy says they can do it if they want and do whatever they want with this information.
when your latitude friends are 18 wheel drivers and they sleep at weird hours.
it makes it a lot easier not to wake anyone up accidentally.
Why is the author such a condescending prick regarding people concerned with their privacy? I am sure Kevin thinks that there is NOTHING that google can do wrong but for others with some degreee of objectivity privacy issues are a major concern.
The reason most people are worried about this type of data gathering is largely due to the lack of trust we have in companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft. Ok I can understand why they want this data but if they where open and transparent about what they are recording, the reason for recording and the degree of protection on the data I can make an informed decision about opting in or out. Apple are still being economical with information which would hardly fill anyone with confidence.
“Google has no way of identifying more than where a certain phone is at any given time. Not being able to place a name or face with the platform key means Google could never use the data to perform some sort of Big Brother tracking of individuals or pinpoint a specific person’s whereabouts.”
This is an incredibly naive statement. Thousands of people have been arrested, charged and convicted of various offenses on the basis of the location of their cellphones Political dissidents in countries like China have also been imprisoned on the basis of this kind of information. And intelligence agencies around the world routinely track individuals using cellphone location data.
As for Android phone users having the option tot opt in and out of data collection, first of all it should be an opt in, not an opt out option, and second, it must be a well hidden option, because I can’t find it on my Android phone.
Hmm, unique device ID key…. at least the data sent to Apple regenerates a new key each time.
Not that I’m concerned with either one, because well, I’m not. Don’t miss iOS, don’t miss stock Android, can’t stand zealots on any side of an issue.