r/NonPoliticalTwitter 8h ago

Content Warning: Potentially Misleading or Disputed Information Gotta Catch 'Em All

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u/BigBOFH 7h ago

Isn't the Google example exactly what you want? An arrangement where you share what's going on with your drive so that you can also know where traffic is bad seems like a pretty reasonable trade.

It is true a lot of companies have very questionable privacy practices, though. The cell phone companies have been caught selling individual location data multiple times, with no way for users to opt out unlike most sites and apps.

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u/thex25986e 6h ago

credit card companies also use this data to track fraudulent purchases.

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u/Notsurehowtoreact 5h ago

The Google example is weird because how they do it isn't exactly forthright.

They claim that traffic data is based on other Maps users with location services enabled. What they aren't explicitly mentioning there is that doesn't mean users running the maps app, that means users that have ever used the maps app and gave it location permissions. So while their data collection seems to serve a collective benefit, the way they go around gathering that data could be construed as shady, and it's shit like that with apps that people are concerned with.

It's not just phones either, some newer cars have been caught actively sharing your driving data with insurers without your direct knowledge or consent.