Palm Pre: Big brother is watching...

[Konz]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32409843/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

The parts I found most interesting:

Hess says he took a close look at the code in his Pre's WebOS and found that the phone was periodically sending information to Palm. Some of this data is fairly benign, such as information on WebOS crashes. Things get a little freakier, however, if you believe Hess when he asserts Palm is gathering users' GPS information, along with data on every app used, and for how long you used it. This information gets uploaded to Palm on a daily basis, Hess claims.

According toPalm's terms and conditions for the WebOS there is nothing that mentions this exact type of data collection and reporting. However, a section of Palm's terms does say it has the right to "collect, store, access, disclose, transmit, process, and otherwise use your Registration Data, account or Device information," and may also do the same with your location data to provide location services.

But Weinstein says he's generally wary of usage terms and conditions that allow data collection, especially if the user can't opt out through the device. He said location data is particularly sensitive, because it can be requested or subpoenaed.

The terms also note that Palm can disclose "any information" to law enforcement authorities, so keep that in mind if you're on the run from the law. Compared to the iPhone, which allows users to block location tracking by switching off the phone's "Location Services," Palm seems to be prying from the moment you turn on the phone's map service.

Just a heads up since people who are on the fence always seem to come to these forums...

 

[jav6454]

Old news:

Gizmodo

 

[iphones4evry1]

There have already been a few threads on this earlier in the week.

It's really really really sad that Palm is violating the Constitutional rights of it's users. I feel sorry for the poor people. George Orwell would be very very disappointed.

 

[Small White Car]

The terms also note that Palm can disclose "any information" to law enforcement authorities, so keep that in mind if you're on the run from the law. Compared to the iPhone, which allows users to block location tracking by switching off the phone's "Location Services," Palm seems to be prying from the moment you turn on the phone's map service.

There's some interesting stuff in all that, but this one is BS.

Trust me, if the cops want to find you AT&T can, and will, tell them where your iPhone is, even if Location Services are turned off.

 

[Konz]

Old news:

Gizmodo

lulz... MSNBC was slow on that one.

Still, the bit about law enforcement use and information being subpoenaed is pretty sad.

 

[Konz]

There's some interesting stuff in all that, but this one is BS.

Trust me, if the cops want to find you AT&T can, and will, tell them where your iPhone is, even if Location Services are turned off.

That's besides the point, because they can't do it retroactively if location services were off.

The fact that they record your location and store that information means it could be accessed in the future by law enforcement if they were to subpoena it. What you're talking about is actively tracking someone, but this is more along the lines of proving where someone was in the past.

Obviously if you're wanted badly enough by law enforcement they can probably track any cell phone these days.

 

[jav6454]

lulz... MSNBC was slow on that one.

Still, the bit about law enforcement use and information being subpoenaed is pretty sad.

Palm may well be breaking the law because if they didn't say that in their contract, clearly its a violation of privacy to use the device to find out where you are.

 

[iphones4evry1]

The terms also note that Palm can disclose "any information" to law enforcement authorities

Any and every organization will turn over information to the authorities if you are running from the law, BUT that is not what this thread is about. This thread is about the fact that Palm is gathering Big Brother data on it's users even when law enforcement is not involved!

 

[kdarling]

That's besides the point, because they can't do it retroactively if location services were off.

Yes, they absolutely can.

Your phone services setting is meaningless, because ATT doesn't require your phone's knowledge or cpu assistance to locate you. It just needs to be on and connected to a tower.

For E911, ATT uses their towers to triangulate your position. And they can record that information constantly, if they wish.

 

[Konz]

Yes, they absolutely can.

Your phone services setting is meaningless, because ATT doesn't require your phone's knowledge or cpu assistance to locate you. It just needs to be on and connected to a tower.

For E911, ATT uses their towers to triangulate your position. And they can record that information constantly, if they wish.

Read the bold word again.

Read.
Think.
Respond.

Nowhere does it say they record that...