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Google to publish user location data to help govts tackle virus
France24 ^ | April 3, 2020

Posted on 04/03/2020 2:53:01 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Paris (AFP) - Google will publish location data from its users around the world from Friday to allow governments to gauge the effectiveness of social distancing measures put in place to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the tech giant said.

The reports on users' movements in 131 countries will be made available on a special website and will "chart movement trends over time by geography," according to a post on one of the company's blogs.

Trends will be display "a percentage point increase or decrease in visits" to locations like parks, shops, homes and places of work, not "the absolute number of visits," said the post, signed by Jen Fitzpatrick, who leads Google Maps, and the company's chief health officer Karen DeSalvo.

"We hope these reports will help support decisions about how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic," they said.

In Europe and the United States, technology firms have begun sharing "anonymised" smartphone data to better track the outbreak.

Even privacy-loving Germany is considering using a smartphone app to help manage the spread of the disease.

But activists say authoritarian regimes are using the coronavirus as a pretext to suppress independent speech and increase surveillance.

And in liberal democracies, others fear widespread data harvesting and intrusion could bring lasting harm to privacy and digital rights.

(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; chinadata; covid19; freedom; google; location; privacy; russia; sidebarabuse; spying; technotyranny; virus
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To: KarlInOhio

Yes, it does - through cell phone tower and known Wifi network triangulation. It’s not as precise as GPS but often it can do well enough.


21 posted on 04/03/2020 6:12:46 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr

How about just turning the thing off and leaving it someplace....like the bottom of an empty ammo can.

Thing’s been turning into more bother than it’s worth anyway.

This just gives me the last excuse I needed to cut that cord.


22 posted on 04/03/2020 6:23:49 PM PDT by Unrepentant VN Vet (Never quit anything in my life, ain't going to start quitting now. WWG1WGA)
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To: GranTorino
Cell phone= Mark of the beast?

Computer.

23 posted on 04/03/2020 6:33:11 PM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Gosh....what’s next? A national vaccine?


24 posted on 04/03/2020 6:36:06 PM PDT by Jane Long (Praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

aggregate data


25 posted on 04/03/2020 6:42:00 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: cymbeline

Can I wrap it aluminon foil?


26 posted on 04/03/2020 6:42:18 PM PDT by lizma2
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To: upchuck

Put it in the microwave oven.
It’s an excellent faraday cage and sound shield

...don’t turn it on though


27 posted on 04/03/2020 6:42:49 PM PDT by SheepWhisperer (My enemy saw me on my knees, head bowed and thought they had won until I rose up and said Amen!)
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To: upchuck; Oldeconomybuyer

Oddly, my phone doesn’t track me very well when I leave it home. Funny how easy it is to defeat the technology that way.


28 posted on 04/03/2020 6:57:51 PM PDT by Hardastarboard (Three most annoying words on the internet - "Watch the video")
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To: Engedi

Every microwave oven is a very good faraday cage made to keep microwaves in, but it will work just the same to keep electromagnetic waves out.

Steel file cabinet or steel toolbox will work file.


29 posted on 04/03/2020 7:01:30 PM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

As Benjamin Franklin said “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”


30 posted on 04/03/2020 7:01:41 PM PDT by CottonBall (A Republican's power comes from your prosperity. A Democrat's power comes from your poverty.)
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To: Fitzy_888

File => fine.


31 posted on 04/03/2020 7:02:58 PM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
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To: Ros42
Let’s attach our phones to drones and all “meet” in the park!

Clever idea!

32 posted on 04/03/2020 7:04:37 PM PDT by NautiNurse (Maintain distance of two Altuves. Clean your paws frequently.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

When one finally has enough of it, you can always tape to the bottom of a CA or NY bound 18-wheeler or freight train....let em track that for awhile.


33 posted on 04/03/2020 7:04:44 PM PDT by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Russia is requiring people to have a special QR code to move outside of their house, and its pulled if they get covid (or are marked by the government for some reason).


34 posted on 04/03/2020 7:05:31 PM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
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To: upchuck

I KNOW!! I didn’t know that until I saw it on a tv show last week.

How do we shield them?


35 posted on 04/03/2020 7:05:41 PM PDT by dp0622 (Radicals, racists dont point fingers at me I'm a small town white boy Just tryin to make ends meet)
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To: dp0622
Shield your phone:

https://www.amazon.com/Lvfeier-Security-Pouch-Anti-Tracking-Anti-Spying/dp/B07J27D5TJ/ref=sr_1_18?crid=37R6OEZS3SPYE&dchild=1&keywords=cell+phone+faraday+bag&qid=1585966552&s=electronics&sr=1-18

36 posted on 04/03/2020 7:17:30 PM PDT by upchuck (Democrats are always the problem, never the answer.)
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To: lizma2

Foil will do the trick. To test, wrap your phone, use another phone to call your phone. Should go straight to voice mail.


37 posted on 04/03/2020 7:20:49 PM PDT by upchuck (Democrats are always the problem, never the answer.)
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To: upchuck

Hey thanks man.


38 posted on 04/03/2020 7:21:48 PM PDT by dp0622 (Radicals, racists dont point fingers at me I'm a small town white boy Just tryin to make ends meet)
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To: Unrepentant VN Vet

Then you have the problem that you won’t be able to access the apps you’re going to need for the foreseeable future. More than a few stores and restaurants are starting to require ordering via app for curbside pickup.


39 posted on 04/03/2020 7:25:40 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: lizma2

Go to Amazon and link up “Fariday bag”.


40 posted on 04/03/2020 7:32:51 PM PDT by cymbeline
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