Photo by: Yutaka Tsutano
Ever since the internet has been around, privacy has been a hard thing to achieve. But now it's gone further than the world wide web. Your cell phone provider is TRACKING you at ALL times if you have an iPhone or an iPad! According to Sandra Guy, a business reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, cell phone providers have always been able to track your phone and give emergency personnel your location in case of an emergency. But that information was never available to the public. Now, iPhone and iPad data are extremely accessible on the devices and on the devices that they have been backed up on (par. 2). As an owner of an iPhone, I feel like my privacy has been seriously violated! Researchers that Guy interviewed said that "users can download the data and put their movements on an interactive map for all to see. The location information has been being gathered for about a year, ever since Apple’s iOS 4 operating system came out" (par. 6). This makes me glad that I haven't updated my iPhone since that update came out! :P Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc., was asked how and why the data was collected and whether or not the data was being shared (par. 7). Alex Levinson, a senior engineer at Katana Forensics, posted an article saying that "the tracking activity isn’t new and reminding iPhone and iPad users that they can turn off location services by using the “settings” menu on their device, which prevents applications from accessing the data" (par. 8).
While I love my iPhone, this information makes me really hesitant when it comes to my phone. What if my phone falls into the wrong hands? If you have an iPhone or and iPad, make sure to turn off the tracking abilities on it so your privacy is protected.
Sources: http://www.suntimes.com/4949980-522/iphone-ipad-tracking-data-easily-accessible.html
Dear Corporation Roles:
ReplyDeleteI, myself am an owner of an iphone and this information frightens me. After I type this I will immediately turn off my location services because I too see this as a huge invasion of privacy. I am perfectly fine with my cell phone company knowing where my phone is at all times as that information could be useful but I really don’t like that that information is available to almost anyone that knows where to look. It also concerns me that I am just now learning this information and not when I updated my phone unknowingly.
I found it interesting that you said “"the tracking activity isn’t new…” This is the first time I have heard about a phone company having such a system and it makes me wonder what other information they may have about my life. I find privacy very important to me and the more invasions of privacy like this that are occurring is making me trust new technology less and less.
I liked that you included “…users that they can turn off location services by using the “settings” menu on their device, which prevents applications from accessing the data" I found it very helpful that you added this part into your writing to assist people who may have the same views as you and want to prevent their phone from sharing certain information.
I really enjoyed reading your article (even though it frightened me) and found it very informal. I will continue to come back for more so keep up the good work!
Dear Mallory,
ReplyDeleteI am surprised how much our privacy has been violated recently. It seems like everyone wants to know what exactly we are doing at every instant.
I liked that you pointed out why they are now violating our privacy. I do understand that in case of an emergency then they should now our location but not at all times.
I agree that it is scary to know that people are always going to know where you are at even if you do not want them to. I myself do not own an iphone but my brother does and what you just said is making me not want to get an iphone myself.
I liked this post it was very interesting.
Aadavark
Dear Mallory,
ReplyDeleteI was reading your post about this information, and I can say I agree about it. Sometimes I do get the feeling that somebody is watching me. What stuck out to me about this, was that, you said if we have an Iphone or Imac. I had no idea that somebody was tracking me through my Iphone. This makes me suspicous about the privacy that we have. I agree they are avoiding our privacy. This should be against the law. I enjoyed your blog. Keep up the good work.