A new lawsuit accusing Google of tracking people’s locations against their will has served as a reminder that every movement of most smartphone users is being recorded, often without their knowledge.

The California man who filed the suit claims that the tech behemoth continued to track the whereabouts of Android smartphone users even after they turned off “location history”.

But the history of geolocation and the privacy issues it raises are as old as the mobile phone itself.

Early days
Before smartphones arrived more than a decade ago, it was still possible to use geolocation. Mobile phones constantly connect to local antenna towers, and by triangulating the signals the user can be found — as Jeff Goldblum illustrated in the 1996 movie “Independence Day”.

However smartphones brought about a far simpler way to track people: GPS.

GPS revolution
After the release of the first iPhone revolutionised the industry in 2007, GPS — Global Positioning System using satellites — became prevalent, and it is now included on all smartphones.

Most apps now use location tracking, and not just for obvious purposes like maps and transport. It’s also used for dating, food delivery and gaming, such as Pokemon Go, which became hugely if briefly popular across the world in 2016.

Trackers on 75% of apps
As the popularity of apps using geolocations grows, so does their money-making potential.

For example, when tourists use their phone to explore, they can be targeted with advertising not just from the country they are in but also the city and even the street they are standing on.

A 2014 study by CNIL, the French government’s techonology consumer protection body, showed that between a quarter to a third of apps had access to the phone’s location.

By 2017, a study by Yale University found that three-quarters of Android apps contained trackers — usually containing advertising.

The CNIL study also found that some apps tracked the phone’s location more than a million times over a three-month period — accessing the information about once per minute.

Even flashlight apps
The new Google lawsuit is far from the first time privacy concerns have been raised over geolocation. In 2011 fellow tech giant Apple faced a lawsuit over location tracking on its ubiquitous iPhones and iPads.

And there are also national security concerns.

In July of this year, researchers found that the fitness app Polar had revealed sensitive data on military and intelligence personnel from 69 countries. The app later disabled the function.

Just months before another health app, Strava, was found to have showed potentially sensitive information about US and allied forces around the world.

But the problem includes apps that don’t even need to track the users’ location.

Some simple flashlight apps have been discovered to have been secretly sharing location information.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/08/21/your-smartphone-is-likely-tracking-your-location/

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/08/21/google-sued-for-unwanted-tracking-of-phone-locations/

No biggie in getting your location or how would gps work without knowing your location. I think What you should really be concern about is that someone is probably watching you right now through your phone front camera. Ask those guys at NSA

It's unfortunate we can't really do without Google apps these days but my advice stay away from Google as much as you can, boycot Google Voice,Google keep,avoid chrome instead use Safari or other apps that doesn't require u to sign-up, Gmail is cool but avoid syncing Ur contacts, calendars or any other information....hmmm end time is now o, these tech companies know far more than u think oo, I laugh ppl uploading pics on social media without thinking about the future consequences.

My fear is one day you just see kponkpon at your work place with evidence and incriminating documents dating far back 15years ago... If u know u know, that's why I just prefer apple products, they keep Ur safety and privacy all for the price you already paid for the device

s33d:
No biggie in getting your location or how would gps work without knowing your location. I think What you should really be concern about is that someone is probably watching you right now through your phone front camera. Ask those guys at NSA

Me I just put small black tape in front of my front phone camera I no fit shout most pple don't know why I do it sha

I know since but do I care? Why should I care?

Let it keep tracking.


The only reason you’ll want to disappear is if you’re a billionaire or you’ve committed a crime

In the 21st century anybody should know that privacy is hard even apple

I don't think your device tracking your location is all wrong, it might be of help in case of theft and location tracking.
Since have bought the Spark 2 my location has been permanently enabled.

I don't think it poses any security threat. Its purely for business and security purposes.

dangoteinlaw:
It's unfortunate we can't really do without Google apps these days but my advice stay away from Google as much as you can, boycot Google Voice,Google keep,avoid chrome instead use Safari or other apps that doesn't require u to sign-up, Gmail is cool but avoid syncing Ur contacts, calendars or any other information....hmmm end time is now o, these tech companies know far more than u think oo, I laugh ppl uploading pics on social media without thinking about the future consequences.

My fear is one day you just see kponkpon at your work place with evidence and incriminating documents dating far back 15years ago... If u know u know, that's why I just prefer apple products, they keep Ur safety and privacy all for the price you already paid for the device

Staying away from google on android is almost impossible with the pre-installed gapps on every android. Won’t you use play store and others? They use the data they collected in making better apps and won’t use your info against you but others might.

I intentionally turned on my location on my tecno spark 2... I really don't have an issue with my phone tracking me

Yyvonne:
I intentionally turned on my location on my tecno spark 2... I really don't have an issue with my phone tracking me

I did the same too on my spark 2... our phones tracking our location ain't really a bad idea... there's an advantage to it

Well I wont be surprised if this is happening.
I noticed that I would type something on my phone, all of a sudden Im seeing ads about it everywhere

Scary stuff
I usually turn off my location sometimes when using my spark phone

s33d:
No biggie in getting your location or how would gps work without knowing your location. I think What you should really be concern about is that someone is probably watching you right now through your phone front camera. Ask those guys at NSA

Omo forget,

It can be scary tbh

Rubiesangel:
I don't think it poses any security threat. Its purely for business and security purposes.