Android devices

Cplof

I'm with you about people getting their undies in a bunch about the covid tracker. Frankly if someone wants to opt into any stupid app that tracks your location knowingly - lake a dating app, bar finder, whatever - I'm fine with it. It's all the other tracking that google does without affirmative notification, and the commoditization of your private data for sale that bugs me.

People used to worry about the government watching their every move ala 1984. Now corporations do it at will for profit, and record it... forever. Then when the government wants to play your life back they just subpoena the respective corporation. Assuming they're not the NSA who doesn't bother with such niceties.

In order for that to work, you need to install a separate app that covers your state or region...if one is available. This has been in the works for a few months now. It's also no more or less invasive than practically any other app on your phone. Although without the proper companion app, it's a totally inert setting on your phone.

Let's take off the tinfoil hat here. If anyone truly cared about their privacy and anonymity, they wouldn't be using cell phones, computers, tablets, or social media in the first place. People voluntarily allow location tracking for superficial things like checking into a bar, a theme park or for finding nearby couples who like to swap partners, but put out an app that could help provide contact tracing during a pandemic and suddenly that's too invasive. Get real.

T

When did Alabama get Android phones?

Impressed with the tech progression in Alabama....

First it was cable TV, then the internet, and now cell phones.

I find it fascinating to watch people on FB scream about the invasion of privacy of a contact tracing app while using their smartphone on a platform that collects way more information (for profit) than this potential lifesaving app does.

~Scamp

Yea,

They are almost always tracking you in some way, whether you agree, or not. Actually, I am sure that by accepting the Terms of Service you've already agreed to anything they do.

Exposure Notification/contact tracking, which is probably the new feature you noticed, had been announced several months ago by both Google and Apple. Having it in the operating System does not mean it's working. You need to download and launch an app to make it work.

I had a phone disruption yesterday and when I turned my phone back on I noticed there was a new setting under Google settings. I have an Android phone I'm not sure if it's on iPhone but if you go to Google settings you'll now see that there's a covid tracking device it says it's turned off but if it's there they're watching me. A cheerful Wednesday thought