General Discussion

Catherina

(35,568 posts)

55. Authorities demand company (Renew) stop tracking Londoners with high-tech trash cans

Mon Aug 12, 2013, 09:37 AM

Aug 2013

UK: Firm must stop tracking people with trash cans

Aug. 12 8:43 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Officials say that an advertising firm must immediately stop using its network of high-tech trash cans to track people walking through London's financial district.

The City of London Corporation says it has demanded Renew pull the plug on the program, which measures the Wi-Fi signals emitted by smartphones to follow commuters as they pass the garbage cans.

In one interview, Renew chief executive Kaveh Memari said he would sell the data to "anyone."

...

The City of London Corporation is responsible for the city's historic "square mile," home to financial institutions, law firms and tourist landmarks.

...

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/uk-firm-must-stop-tracking-people-trash-cans

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Why is that billboard smiling at you? Because it tracks your smartphone MAC address to advertise [View all] Catherina Aug 2013 OP

Why do you find this scary? Egnever Aug 2013 #1

Maybe he doesn't want the sign knowing his phones MAC address. Rex Aug 2013 #2

Then he should get rid of the phone Egnever Aug 2013 #4

Oh sure get rid of the phone, guilty of driving in public. Rex Aug 2013 #5

Not even sure what that means Egnever Aug 2013 #8

A joke, pretty bad one at that. Rex Aug 2013 #10

Turning off the phone works as well Egnever Aug 2013 #15

It might to you. Rex Aug 2013 #21

The solution is simple Egnever Aug 2013 #24

Did you even read the part about BILLBOARDS? WinkyDink Aug 2013 #12

Yup Egnever Aug 2013 #14

i don't want a store to send me coupons based on my buying patterns, or billboards to target HiPointDem Aug 2013 #40

Then dont use those things Egnever Aug 2013 #45

that would be great advice except for the fact that the range of freedom one has to do that HiPointDem Aug 2013 #49

Well Egnever Aug 2013 #51

what a stupid & condescending reply. HiPointDem Aug 2013 #52

I have a dumb phone and I like it just fine. MADem Aug 2013 #29

I have a company phone and it bothers me a lot. Rex Aug 2013 #30

"paranoia"? Look up the definition. WinkyDink Aug 2013 #11

ok Egnever Aug 2013 #16

Its more comedy movie than horror movie, but its bad. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #7

Abused to do what? Egnever Aug 2013 #9

You're asking to have giant screens over public places broadcasting data from personal lives. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #17

LOL Egnever Aug 2013 #18

Oh, it'll go there. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #22

No. I own a private phone for MY convenience to get JimDandy Aug 2013 #25

Because you are ignorant of the way the phone works Egnever Aug 2013 #27

Don't you read? JimDandy Aug 2013 #31

People want lots of things Egnever Aug 2013 #33

gee, i thought capitalism was all about giving the *customer* what he wants, not 'this is all HiPointDem Aug 2013 #42

Well then you are foolish Egnever Aug 2013 #46

yes, that's what *i* thought. add "increasing their own power" to the mix & you've got it. HiPointDem Aug 2013 #48

Not willing to accept it anymore. JimDandy Aug 2013 #53

Best of luck in your endevaors Egnever Aug 2013 #54

I wait for know-it-all's just like you to start making noise DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #32

Sounds to me like you have a problem with the OP and not me Egnever Aug 2013 #34

No. Your point is that if you can see my street address from the curb... DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #36

Should and can are two different things Egnever Aug 2013 #37

Did I say that hacking phones wasn't possible? DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #38

I would love to discuss. Egnever Aug 2013 #44

My original problem wasn't the ads, although I don't like them DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #47

Still not finding the problem Egnever Aug 2013 #50

So could you just turn off your phone's wifi while in public to prevent this? Incitatus Aug 2013 #3

No Egnever Aug 2013 #6

I generally pick up and discard stuff throughout the store Generic Other Aug 2013 #13

Cell phones are inherently tracking devices Silent3 Aug 2013 #19

Well said. Egnever Aug 2013 #23

I turn my cell phone off when I drive. MineralMan Aug 2013 #20

Have dumbphone. It's turned off 90% of the time. hobbit709 Aug 2013 #26

I have a flip phone, old school. babylonsister Aug 2013 #28

Weird, but not something I'm going to lose giftedgirl77 Aug 2013 #35

Exactly! Egnever Aug 2013 #39

I think it works out well. giftedgirl77 Aug 2013 #43

With maybe 30 cars in the viewing area, how will the billboard decide who to direct the ad to? N/T GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #41

Authorities demand company (Renew) stop tracking Londoners with high-tech trash cans Catherina Aug 2013 #55

Opting in, opting out and data privacy laws suffragette Aug 2013 #56