At this point, it should come as no surprise to read about mobile app tracking users and selling the data. But an article in today's New York Times still makes for interesting and disturbing reading. The article explains that –
At least 75 companies receive anonymous, precise location data from apps whose users enable location services to get local news and weather or other information, The Times found. Several of those businesses claim to track up to 200 million mobile devices in the United States — about half those in use last year. The database reviewed by The Times — a sample of information gathered in 2017 and held by one company — reveals people’s travels in startling detail, accurate to within a few yards and in some cases updated more than 14,000 times a day.
These companies sell, use or analyze the data to cater to advertisers, retail outlets and even hedge funds seeking insights into consumer behavior.
Some apps receive users' location data as often as every two second, enabling them to see when the person goes to a medical appointment, to a gym, even to Planned Parenthood — and for how long. And the information is detailed enough to identify the specific user.
The full story is here.
