Everybody's Doing It! (Phone Tracking)

Apple have recently been criticised over  the constant tracking of iPhones running iOS4. The 'problem' came to light when two researchers were investigating the iPhone backup files. One found a directory which contained exact location data saved with timestamps. After importing the data to a program, the pair could see the phone's location at any point in time on a map. The phone had been tracked for nine months.

After everyone realised location tracking was such a big deal, the finger turned to Google who were also criticised. Unlike Apple, Google has explicitly expressed that their services were Opt-In meaning users had to agree to have their location tracked. 

When setting up any Android phone, the user is asked to enable WiFi, mobile network and location services.


"All location sharing on Android is opt-in by the user. We provide users with notice and control over the collection, sharing and use of location in order to provide a better mobile experience on Android devices. Any location data that is sent back to Google location servers is anonymized and is not tied or traceable to a specific user."


It looks like Google is in the clear. Now all that is needed is for Apple to explain their location-based services more clearly and possibly take a leaf out of Google's book and allow tracking to be Opt-In.

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