Seriously? There's no good use for this data collection, and plenty of ways it could be misused. Would you want the IRS demanding you send them the file to prove any business trips or mileage deductions you've taken? The police calling you in for an interview because you were in the same area at the same time a crime was committed? Apparently at least one police department in Michigan already has the ability to pull saved data off cell phones, so this is not just a theoretical concern.
The author is cavalier because he's in forensics, so from his perspective these data can be useful. From a consumer's perspective, I don't want to be under a forensic microscope - I at least deserve the choice of whether or not I want this information about myself collected.
It's not FUD. The data are being collected, and while it may not be as accurate as GPS coordinates, it's a lot more accurate than your worst-case 3 miles estimate, in most cases. I absolutely stand by my original comment that Apple should immediately release a software update that allows the user to turn off this data collection feature and delete any previously saved logs both on the phones and on any computers they're backed up to.
There certainly IS a good use for this data. It's used to assist the GPS in finding locations in seconds rather than minutes. From other reading on the Core Location DB file, it's my understanding that each cell tower's data is replaced at each encounter. It is against the law for Apple to track anyone. . . As pointed out by the article. If Apple were doing it, they would be at risk of severe legal repercussions.
As for IRS seeking confirmation, I have no fear of that as my claimed mileage is legitimate. Isn't yours? Fourth amendment, anyone? The cell towers in the vicinity of the crime scene already have the ID code of your phone. The police have no need of your phone's log. It's proves nothing.
Are you aware that Google Android phones have been found to report their GPS location several times an hour to Google, not just keep a log of cell towers and hotspots in a file on the phone and cached on the phone owner's computer???? What is GOOGLE doing with those data???