this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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Privacy

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In the privacy community there are services, programs for private maps use. Some even suggest using the phone without a SIM card (which is quite possible, but you can get into trouble). But I don't use them, as my geolocation is already tracked by an advanced camera system in my city, by my cell provider via triangulation. What are your thoughts on this? Do you use OpenStreetMap for private navigation?

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[–] sir_reginald 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

what do you mean by you can get into trouble for using a phone without a SIM card? A WiFi only phone is just a smaller tablet.

And yeah, cities with extensive camera vigilance can be a problem impossible to solve. There's not much you can do about that other than protest.

Your cell provider might track you via triangulation, but this is solved by either plane mode, turning your phone off or a Faraday bag. Of course those would render your phone useless (except plane mode and WiFi activated).

it's a problem quite difficult to solve right now. if you want a working phone, at least your cell provider will track you. But by using open street maps you don't give your data to Google too, so you minimize who has it.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Personally not worried, but as a society I am.

I live in the US, and we've seen a rise in some particularly hostile legislation against certain groups of people like in the LGBTQ community. I can foresee precise tracking being used against these groups of people to determine if they've been in the vicinity of a medical provider's office, have traveled across state lines, congregate in certain social establishments, and even perhaps where they vote for representatives.

This information could be used as targeting information for harassment or further punitive legislation. Voting districts could be redrawn to split these populations into minority regions such that they don't have proportional share of representatives. Liquor licenses for "gay bars" could be revoked. Maybe we extend the liquor license revocations to bars which simply tolerate LQBTQ people getting a beer after work.

Maybe tomorrow we change the targeted groups to Muslims. Or maybe NRA members. With the foundations for this kind of surveillance in place, the opportunity for abuse will never go away.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

You could have also referenced the abortion issue, where it's been proven without a shadow of a doubt that police are using surveillance powers to monitor women who are suspected of being pregnant and trying to terminate the pregnancy. It's literally already happening in one instance, which helps prove that you're very right in being worried about the things you're worried about. Because those things will surely come to pass as well.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I disagree with you just slightly. I don't think that focus should be on gay or whatever group the news is taking about. We are all unique and we all diserve privacy and freedom.

As Edward Snowden once said:

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Location is turned off on my phone.

I'm well aware that "the authorities" can still location track my phone. Not much I can do about that, frankly. And I'm not sure they care much about me. But Scamazon and Screwgle and CrApple and whoever cannot. Which is the point.

Most of the time I figure out my directions before I leave the house. I do use a map app without location services. So it's pretty much a virtual paper map, which is still useful.

I do also have paper maps, but rarely use them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So does your carrier. And they sell to third parties.

Everyone is so worried about Apple and Google but carriers have been raping you for data and selling it for ages.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The article here recently about Mozilla testing cars was off the chain.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

So that means we should give up? That's like saying your leaving your front door open because something was stolen off your porch

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

they do not care, let's be real. i also use maps as virtual paper, without GPS enabled. Google does not know where i am because of LineageOS + microG thing.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But I don't use them, as my geolocation is already tracked by an advanced camera system in my city, by my cell provider via triangulation.

how is your geolocation tracked by cameras? It doesn't make sense.

advanced camera system? where do you live? Singapore?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Moscow. one of the pioneer cities in surveillance-camera department.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

how? facial recognition?

ps: fuck putin

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

yup, facial recognition, one of the most advanced system, near China quality ;D

[–] eruchitanda 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone already broke to my house, so who need locks. /j

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

bad analogy. it's an ongoing process, not a one-time breach ;)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I leave my phone in airplane mode all the time. I only turn on the cellular radio when I need data. But not when I'm just roaming around.

When the radio is on I'm tracked, and I know it, and when the radio is off I'm not.

Just because your camera network exists, doesn't mean you have to make it easy for them.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

it already is. our camera system recognizes, identifies people easily.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

No reason to give up and make it even easier for them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Excellent advice. Thank you, master 😃

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Obviously it's not something you can get up and do but it's something I'd plan out.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There are much more serious disadvantages in the provinces that affect not only tracking but also quality of life :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I am up to a certain point.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If I don't want to be located, I know how not to be.

But if I'm in my home, expected to be in my home, belong in my home and I'm doing home stuff, I'm not entirely that caring about who knows I am. I also don't think it's that big a deal if the government knows I'm in a bookstore, or work.

But yeah, if I was hiding a body, I'd probably take my shitbox Acura that's disconnected from everything but the ground, and I'd leave my phone at home, tied to my cat with string so it looks like I'm cleaning.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

good strategy, for day-to-day life it does not matter so much where are you located.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just because you can't stop all the leaks in your plumbing doesn't mean you shouldn't fix the ones you can.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

If these holes lead to the same place and the same data leaks through them, then I wouldn't worry about there being more than one :)