(CBS) Google is releasing free software Wednesday that enables people to keep track of each other using their cell phones.
CNET got a sneak peek at it, and CNET-TV Senior Editor and Early Show contributor Natali Del Conte explained how it works on the show Tuesday. She says “Latitude” uses GPS systems and what’s called cell tower triangulation to do the job. The software seeks the closest three cell towers and, with GPS, combines the data to show where someone is. It is designed to work on any phone with Internet capabilities, except the iPhone.
“Latitude” is being marketed as a tool that could help parents keep tabs on their children’s locations, but it can be used for anyone to find anyone else, assuming permission is given. “What Google Latitude does is allow you to share that location with friends and family members, and likewise be able to see friends and family members’ locations,” Steve Lee, product manager for Google Latitude, told CNET. “For example, a girlfriend could use it to see if her boyfriend has arrived at a restaurant and, if not, how far away he is.”
CNET points out that, “To protect privacy, Google specifically requires people to sign up for the service. People can share their precise location, the city they’re in, or nothing at all.”
“What we found in testing,” Lee added to CNET, “is that the most common scenario is a symmetrical arrangement, where both people are sharing with each other.”
It seems an apology is owed to the tinfoil hat crowd. I am certain that Google would never allow this service to be used against you, since privacy above all is their motto… right?
Yup. Google sucks. Sad thing is the NSA will spend millions on their version of this oblivious to google’s version
Screwing my tin-foil hat down upon my head…
Who needs to implant tracking devices into the population, when everyone has a cellphone “glued” to their heads?
I like it. Good to know where the wife and kiddies are 24/7.
The paranoid simply don’t have to turn their phones on right?
#3. And remove the battery.
I love this idea. My wife likes to arrive late and never hears the phone above her music. It’s also useful for friends, etc.
As far as being used against me, I’m not sure it’s a big deal. I’m at home now, later I’ll be a a restaurant, and still later I’ll be working. The only evil use I could think is if someone wanted to steal my things when I was away from home. I hope I’ve picked my friends a little better than that.
OK all you civil liberty and paranoid people get your lawyers primed. Its going to be a fun ride! My mother in law always thought she was being watched from her computer even though she did not even have a web cam. Now I guess she can be followed almost anywhere! Thanks Google!! I am sure divorce rates will go up too. Oh, I guess with my daughter I don’t have to trust her, now I can just spy on her. No sense teaching her the value of trust. This could be a useful tool, but we as humans will abuse it for sure.
Idiot notion of the day: “No sense teaching her the value of trust.” /// How about teaching her to trust that you are watching every little thing she does and that your righteous rage will be a terrible thing to behold?
How do children survive their dipshit lazy parents?
#6: As far as being used against me, I’m not sure it’s a big deal. I’m at home now, later I’ll be a a restaurant, and still later I’ll be working. The only evil use I could think is if someone wanted to steal my things when I was away from home. I hope I’ve picked my friends a little better than that.
Yes, well, you simply lack the imagination of the tinfoil hat crowd. What they fear is the ‘gubmint’ getting hold of the data and tracking you.
On the other hand: if someone with nefarious aims was able in some way to access the data, it could be used to track you for all kinds of purposes: kidnapping, murder, theft, stalking, etc. While I’m hoping that Google would not allow anyone but designated people this access, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that someone could get it without your permission. I don’t think it’s that farfetched.
Personally, I don’t plan to use this service as I simply don’t have a need for it, not because I’m afraid of misuse of the service.
@#4 “What part of “To protect privacy, Google specifically requires people to sign up for the service. People can share their precise location, the city they’re in, or nothing at all.” did you not comprehend?”
The part of who watches the watchers… What prevents Google from tracking everyone and having public only what people have signed for but using all the rest for their own (moneymaking) purposes? What prevents abuse (social engineering or hacking your way in and tracking unsuspecting people)?
When would I agree with such system? If Google offered a separate device which you can purchase and thus allow yourself to be tracked. (Even that is rife with potential abuse).
Eventually we’ll all be dressed like Saudi women.
RBG
#13–Bryan==what part of “contractual provisions don’t protect against people willing to commit crime” do YOU not understand??????
Pretty stupid not to understand that even before you posted your nonsense==whole nother world of ineptitude not to understand it when its pointed out to you.
#15–Bryan==hahah. So you don’t understand “All of It” once again? Silly man. Tools, evil/yourself/or otherwise is NOT the subject here that you have errantly commented on.
Post back that you really can’t identify the actual issue and I’ll go into it farther if you really need the help.
Tool—-heh, heh. Yes, indeed.
Oh come on, the possibility of tracking cell phones is as old as the technology itself. The police and federal agents have been using it all this time. So finally average joe can access it, big deal. It’s like the way people got all worked up when they found out how easy those cell phone calls are to intercept. If you want privacy – just turn it off!
First, this sort of tracking has been around and available for a cost for some time now. Why does it become evil or more evil when Google provides it?
Second, why is Google highlighted in orange every where on this page?
Yup, ayup. We should ban ALL technology. All of it can be abused by those fearful demons hiding under libertarian beds.
Paranoia must have been invented by a “Freedom” lover named Ludd.
This has already been used. A post here noted that a grandmother who took her grandchild was found in this manner. They used the phone to locate her and google earth to view the location and sent people to a motel.
The gov’ment or NSA if you wish most likely has somebody in some third world nationing tracking everybody which a phone for them now.
Wow. What a bunch of fools. Which of you is unclear on the concept of a government “subpoena”??? If the information exists, it can never be private.
I’m out.
I keep reading words like permission and contractual but why couldn’t I just “accidentally” leave my cell in your car? Throw away cells are under $20 these days, pretty cheap surveillance equipment if you ask me
Hello from France,
There’s something I don’t get in this. It’s your cell phone operator who’s capable of computing our position, not Google ?
This “Latitude” Service means that your phone operator gives your position to Google. Your phone operator should ask for your permission, even before Google asks for it…
Now, here in France, cell phone operators must log your phone’s positions for at least one year, and give out that log to authorities, if officially requested by a judge.
#9
I think he was making the point that he doesn’t care if people knows where he is and that the information is already there without this service….
“I’m hoping that Google would not allow anyone but designated people this access”
– and just how will they do that?Username and password? surely you couldn’t be that oblivious on the net?
I imagine it will be just as easy to hack as an email, with much worse consequences.
okay, it also works if you install the app on your laptop and turn the wireless on, can someone explain me how that can be?