Google Latitude
Mar 17th, 2009 | By Web Team | Category: Campaign newsLiberal Democrat MPs have expressed their concern about Google’s new phone tracking system, Latitude.
The service makes available a user’s location data on a time-to-time or continuous basis. Tom Brake MP and Chris Huhne MP have tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) warning that the device has potential security risks and could substantially endanger user privacy. The Liberal Democrats believe that without adequate safeguards, the programme could present an unnecessary danger.
Over one million people in 27 countries have signed up to Google Latitude since its launch last month. While it is undoubtedly a commercial success, there is a real risk it could hurt individual privacy. The program operates as a reciprocal opt-in system and when installed on mobile phones, allows the user to share details of their location with accepted parties.
The Liberal Democrats have no objection to Google Latitude on a voluntary basis, but there are genuine concerns that without adequate safeguards, this Big Brother technology could be misused. Tom Brake has echoed the apprehension of Privacy International, the human rights group, in highlighting some scenarios in which consent may not have been sought. These include employers spying on staff through company phones and parents or partners covertly signing up children or partners to track their movements.
Tom Brake noted Britain’s “tradition of fighting for our freedoms. With this new system, we face a more insidious threat to our liberties.” He urged his fellow MPs “to support this EDM and encourage the Government to take action to ensure that ‘Latitude’ does not represent a threat to our privacy. Our freedom to go about our daily business, without being constantly monitored, could be at stake.”
Google maintain they have considered all risks when developing the program and insist it in no way threatens users’ privacy. They point to the opt-in nature of the system and an alerts system to notify users that the system is running. However, the Liberal Democrats believe that this alert system should be improved, calling for a daily text to alert users that the feature is activated.
Tom Brake MP has written to Google UK’s chief executive highlighting the issues surrounding the program and urging him to consider increased safeguards, particularly with regard the complexity of security settings. The Information Commissioner has promised to monitor Google Latitude closely and 20 MPs have signed the EDM in just two days.
If that frightens you. What about PHORM profiling webusers both adults and CHILDREN. Intercepting connections and collecting browsing data. That’s digital stalking in my book. If you are a Scout or Guide Leader amongst other things you have to go through a police check. Will those profiling children FOR PROFIT have to go through the same checks? Think of it this way.
Your postman delivers your mail. It’s in an envelope and has your address on it. The postman knows where to deliver it but not what is inside. Phorm intercepts your communications on the web and OPENS the envelopes containing your data and reads it. That’s like your postman opening your mail and reading it before you get it. Would you put up with that ? No so why should you have to put up with your ISP and PHORM doing it for profit, using your personal private data for profit. What has this government done so far, evasion misinformation, redirection and circle the wagons. I speak here from personal experience in dealing with the ICO, BERR and the Home Office.
Phillip Main
Seriously, while I believe that the UK is indeed heading down the slippery slope of turning into a police state (a lot of buses these days have 4!+ cameras), the danger is NOT coming from Google.
I am sick of the technophilia of privacy campaigners.
The real danger is coming from the UK government. Labour need to be stopped, but I am convinced that the Conservatives would not be any different.
Just, please, don’t put the blame on Google…
Robin,
we already halfway down the slippery slope and because of the apathy of the British public, especially the “Ive to nothing to hide brigade” we are in danger of reaching the bottom shortly.
It doesn’t matter that you have nothing to hide, it matters that they should not be collecting this information at all.
The retention of phone calls for 12 months will do nothing to prevent terrorism. Which terrorist is going to march into 02 or Vodaphone or any other mobile phone supplier and take out a twelve month contract? No throw away phones are the order of the day, so track me now HMG says Mr. Terrorist.
Then the web browsing data. Internet cafe, free wifi, someone elses wifi easily accessible as most windows routers aren’t even password protected and if they are the password is so weak as to prevent little or no obstacle.
Then the emails this is the easiest to circumvent so I’m not even going to say how, but believe me its so simple and legal.
So if I have thought of these faults in the system the government is either stupid and ignorant, which is a given really when I think about it, but regardless if they have thought of it then who are they really tracking? The only one this system will affect is Joe Public who has one phone and an iternet connection at home. Terrorism my backside. HMG frightens me more.
On the subject of Google they can be ignored and they can be blocked. They are not like the ISP’s and Phorm, they cannot be avoided and they are the danger.