With the application-accessible mobile phones and devices of today, there are many location-based applications. These geolocation applications report your location to others and associate locations to your location. However there can be privacy consequences associated with such applications. While some of the consequences such as when someone reports an emergency from a cell phone, the location of the mobile caller is reported to the dispatcher, imagine if this information was compromised. A negative example persists when a rental car was tracked and found speeding on 3 occasions and the driver was fined $450 by the rental company. Also the website PleaseRobMe.com (similar to one mentioned in class) takes tweets with location data attached and can be used by thieves t track when you are at home or not and rob you while you are away.
There are many applications available that play on these location-based features. Gowalla is like the popular Foursquare allowing check-ins but its partnerships with companies enable one to exchange virtual items for their real-life counterpart for free. Another, Loopt, offers freebies for things going on near your phone’s location. While there are risks, most geolocation apps allow you to set how much information is to be shared.
One cool app that enhances privacy protection has been made by Lookout Mobile Security. This app, Privacy Advisor, helps to ease concerns about mobile privacy by scanning each app that a person is about to download on their phones. They app then tells the owner of the mobile device what part of their private information the app can access. It is better to be safe than sorry because although it is very rare to get a virus on your smartphone or other mobile device, it can be lost or stolen, causing private data to be compromised.
Research has shown that users have an average of 31 applications on their mobile devices which can access their information. Further 19 of these apps can access their location. Surprisingly 91% of consumers are concerned about phone privacy but only 7%S are very confident that they understand what private information is being accessed by third party services on their phone.
The rise of anonymous apps has concerned researchers. With these apps, the identity of the user need not be known. For example, when walking past a coffee shop, your phone can be alerted of specials currently taking place within the shop. This is different from walking into a coffee shop and using your cell phone to pay for your food instead of paying with cash. In this sense, record of who you are and your credit card information must be kept. This anonymity is called hitchhiking because the location itself is of primary interest.
Another study took place where a group of researchers went to a location to see if there was any identity or tracking violations using an application called Bustle. The purpose of this study was to see if sensitive data could be collected in location-based applications. In the case of the app, Bustle, it collected information that could not be connected to the user so there were no tracking or identity violations. However, other research has shown that users’ levels of intrusiveness and privacy concerns are much higher for location-tracking apps than for apps that are just aware of one’s position.
People have to be aware of the risks associated with geolocation apps but I don't think they should be afraid of them because in the end, how much you share is up to you.
Photo source: The Atlantic Wire
Other sources: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/bits-pics-video-calls-from-the-top-of-the-world/?partner=rss&emc=rss
http://www.pcworld.com/article/192803-2/geolocation_101_how_it_works_the_apps_and_your_privacy.html
This info is cutting edge. A nice discussion of how location based devices, apps and information are quickly evolving to raise multiple benefits or issues, especially from the perspective of one's privacy. Many of the apps reviewed are lesser known, which makes the post all that more informative.I understand why you would say people should not necessarily be afraid of the geo positioning, but I think one major goal not yet reached is to figure out a way for users to be better informed about the location-based options and to provide more selections to control when one's location is and is not revealed. Yes, many apps now ask if you wish to use the location features BUT that is typically a one time message. Few people remember which apps are reporting location and which are not. I agree with your position that it's not something one should fear, but I do think there needs to be a better understanding of such sensitive information by users of all ages. Thanks for the summary of the research too!
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