[liberationtech] New microchip for smartphones to provide unprecedented ultra-precise location data

Sat Apr 14 08:08:07 PDT 2012

Take that logic to its extreme, and we should abolish all digital cameras,
and all wireless technology, because they can be misused.
There's a clear line between technology that is developed specifically and
intentionally for oppressive purposes and technology which is developed for
a variety of purposes, but poses potential risks. The first should be
fought, the second should be monitored.

In the case of advanced location technology, we might, for example, demand
that mobile OS developers install a settings switch which allows the user
to disable this functionality, or see which applications are using it. Any
smartphone I've ever owned had a switch for GPS, purely for power saving
purpose.

Yishay
___________________________
   http://www.yishaymor.org

On 14 April 2012 13:36, Fran Parker <lilbambi at gmail.com> wrote:

> So true Paul!
>
> "It's bad civic hygiene to build technologies that could someday be used
> to facilitate a police state. No matter what the eavesdroppers say, these
> systems cost too much and put us all at greater risk."
> http://www.schneier.com/blog/**archives/2010/09/wiretapping_**the.html<http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/09/wiretapping_the.html>
>
> Sadly we have seen too many things created over time that they claimed
> were just used for bad things; but could have been used for bad or good.
> And that's true of this as well.
>
> It's true of way too much these days ... way too many things could be used
> for good or bad and are getting used to control, categorize, snoop,
> wiretap, for security theater, threaten,  and often with way less oversight
> than should be the case.
>
> I can't help being thankful that tyrannical government leaders like the
> obvious, Hitler, didn't have the technology we have today! Look what he did
> with IBM punchcard systems!
>
>
> On 4/14/12 3:25 AM, Paul Bernal (LAW) wrote:
>
>> True, but Schneier's 'bad civil hygiene' quote comes immediately to mind.
>> The risks here are immense. The current Mexican issue is very much a
>> cautionary tale...
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On 14 Apr 2012, at 08:21, "Yishay Mor"<Yishay.Mor at open.ac.uk<**mailto:
>> Yishay.Mor at open.ac.uk>>  wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Maybe obvious, but the technology itself is neither good or evil. Its
>> what you do with it. I can think of a variety of wonderful applications for
>> this technology. Starting from locating people in a situation of crisis to
>> location-based games and educational experiences ("to your left, you can
>> see.."). The issue is that people need to (a) be aware of the privacy
>> implications an (b) have control over when their location data is collected
>> and who can see it.
>>
>> ____________________
>> Dr. Yishay Mor
>> Senior Lecturer, Educational Technology
>> http://iet.open.ac.uk/people/**yishay.mor<http://iet.open.ac.uk/people/yishay.mor>
>> +44 1908 6 59373
>>
>>
>> On 12 April 2012 19:07, Katrin Verclas<katrin at mobileactive.**org<katrin at mobileactive.org>
>> <mailto:katrin@**mobileactive.org <katrin at mobileactive.org>>>  wrote:
>>
>> Welcome to the new world ultra-precise location tracking on your phone...
>>
>> http://www.activistpost.com/**2012/04/new-microchip-for-**
>> smartphones-to.html<http://www.activistpost.com/2012/04/new-microchip-for-smartphones-to.html>
>>
>> Excerpt:
>>
>>
>>> 'The Broadcom Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, recently
>>> unveiled a brand new microchip for smartphones which will provide
>>> ultra-precise location details, potentially even within a few
>>> centimeters, far beyond what current smartphones can detect.
>>>
>>> Today cell phones, but smartphones in particular, have become one of
>>> the most powerful surveillance tools available with Carrier IQ,
>>> citizen spying applications distributed by both the private sector
>>> and government agencies, techniques to encourage citizen spying, and
>>> a total lack of privacy.
>>>
>>> The new chip, called Broadcom 4752 or BCM4752, will relay
>>> information about the vertical and horizontal position, if the
>>> individual is indoors or out, all through combining a wide variety
>>> of information sources.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Katrin Verclas
>> MobileActive.org<http://**MobileActive.org <http://MobileActive.org>>
>> katrin at mobileactive.org<**mailto:katrin at mobileactive.org**>
>>
>> skype/twitter: katrinskaya
>> (347) 281-7191
>>
>> Check out SaferMobile.org<http://**SaferMobile.org<http://SaferMobile.org>
>> >
>>
>> Using Mobile Technology More Securely. For Activists, Rights Defenders,
>> and Journalists.
>> https://safermobile.org
>>
>> MobileActive.org<http://**MobileActive.org <http://MobileActive.org>>: A
>> global network of people using mobile technology for social impact
>>
>> http://mobileactive.org
>>
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