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Location tracking of phones is out of control. Here’s how to fight back. (arstechnica.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

I remember when Bluetooth started demanding location permissions. You'll never convince me that it's functionally required or provides any benefit other than furthering efforts to spy on the user.

When it started being rolled out, I avoided any app or hardware that made that demand. Sadly, that's no longer an option if I want any Bluetooth at all.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

It's not like Bluetooth started demanding location permissions, the conceptual model of the permission was revised: having access Bluetooth means an app could determine your location via a form of lateration.

In earlier versions of smartphone operating systems, this was not transparent to users lacking the technical background, so Bluetooth also requiring location access is actually an attempt at making users aware of that. I'm not an iOS developer, so I can't comment on iPhones, but on Android versions prior to 11, having access to Bluetooth meant an app would be able to determine your location.

Today, you can require the permission ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, which expresses that your app might use Bluetooth to obtain location information on Android. Also, if you're just scanning for nearby devices to connect your app to, but don't want users to be confused why your smart fridge app needs to know your precise location, you can declare a permission flag (neverForLocation) and Android will strip beacon information from the scan results, better asserting your intentions.

So, overall: no, there is nothing nefarious going on, it was always possible to determine your location via Bluetooth, and the update to the permission model was an honest improvement that actually benefits you as user.

Now, there are still plenty of shady apps around, and apps that are poorly written - don't use those.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I knew that someone would try to convince me. You won't convince me.

... Though your argument is pretty compelling.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago

I don't think he wanted to convince you, he just explained the backgroundon how you can track locations with bluetooth.

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