Geo Living

She wore a few days like writing this post straight from the recent news about the problems with geolocation. In quick succession, we have gone from demonizing Apple to maintain a hidden file on the computers of users with historical geographical location of their devices to verify that both Google and Microsoft are basically the same, and finally to the Dutch Tom Tom not only collects the data, but it also sells to the police to place the traffic control radars at the points where you know positively that exceeds the speed limit more common and can be used to increase collection.

Both Apple and Google are already the subject of three applications for violation of privacy, and I imagine it will be just a matter of time before the same thing happen in other cases, and which are surely forthcoming. And the issue, clearly, should lead to reflection: the overnight, we lost our innocence with regard to geolocation. We realize that we live in a state of continuous tracking, which from the time you use certain devices of broad social, companies can always know where you are, and even collecting it. And the thing, no doubt, will not stay on device manufacturers: it certainly extends to carriers, and all those who, without being in position to capture the data, access them through transactions with those who do have them.

Of the four cases discussed, Tom Tom is undoubtedly the most serious. Basically, because we speak of a company which on one hand grasp geolocation data and speed of its users and sells the state, which allows the police improperly used not to ensure the safety of citizens, but to increase right to collect taxes (as long we know it does and indeed should be accompanied by a class action lawsuit against the State itself), and on the other hand sells a service for users to know the location of the same radar!

Taking some distance from the subject, it is time to reflect on the model of society that we claim to have now found that the geolocation technology are no longer a thing of rare freaks who use devices, but its use is considerably widespread. Should we react radically and start to suspect all geo-capable device? The range is infinite, because in addition to include GPS devices, add all mobile phones, capable of geolocation by triangulation of antennas. Indeed, in many cases, the user's geolocation van including key parts of the value proposition of the service, or others who, while not essential, certainly possible functions that the user would not resign.

The commitment, therefore, is not to give up living geo, but to understand the consequences and limitations that should be asked to use and storage of such data. Basically, the demand that he collects and uses our geolocation data which strictly comply with privacy legislation, and to treat our data with due respect. That does not store or sell them to anyone without our knowledge, pure and simple. What is required by law in those countries with sensible legislation in this regard. That's it. Geolocation in itself is not bad, and more: we must get used to that, we say as we say, we already live in a society in which every moment we are revealing our position, and that to oppose it will be soon as backward as we aim to put on today live without mobile phone. And that is of crucial importance that these data are not used to make the world a permanent panopticon , but to create reasonable value proposition for the user. No, the geolocation is not bad, and is here to stay, just like everything else, you have to use it well.