Verizon to Include Warning Stickers About Location Data on Phones
Verizon’s looking to put out a messy fire before it gets started as they are drawing up plans to include warning labels on devices to let buyers know about Android’s location data features. It’s no doubt in response to the uproar that has risen over the “discovery” that Google (and other software vendors) store anonymous location data in order to make things such as local search and navigation easier and faster to use.
Google was even sued by two women who are concerned for the privacy of everyone with an Android phone. Big Red doesn’t want to deal with any lawsuits, though, so they’re trying to nip any potential legal nuisances in the bud. They wrote a letter to the United States House of Representatives detailing what goes into the gathering of the day, how it’s used, and why it’s used. There’s a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo here that we probably shouldn’t care about.
And, to be honest, the sticker isn’t all that exciting, either. Nor do I think it’s the least bit necessary. No matter what phone or device you’re on, Google will allow you to immediately disable location services and they will never store information about where you’ve been.
And even if you do use it and have become concerned, it’s quite easy to get rid of that data – go to settings, applications, then manage applications and find Location services. (Name may be different depending on your device.) Clear data on that application and you can take that tin foil hat right off your head. Read the full document from Verizon here if you’re into that sort of thing. [via PhoneScoop]
PS: This sticker is going on the iPhone too. If you’re going to sue Google for something this stupid, why don’t you go ahead and give Apple, HP, RIM, Microsoft, and others a call?