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Location data is ground zero in privacy wars

Axios: “Our phones’ GPS and location capabilities are a key part of what make them magical — enabling them to speed our commutes, hail rides and find the devices when we lose them. These capabilities are also ground zero for the looming fight over defining the boundaries of privacy and acceptable uses of our personal information. The big picture: Three recent stories show just how common problems with location data can be — and how thorny they’ve become.

  1. Cell providers resell location info…
  2. Tweet locations reveal where you live…
  3. Slack monitors your itinerary…
  4. What’s next: Members of the new Congress plan to float a wide range of new privacy legislation this year, with location data at the heart of the debate. New laws will need to thread the needle between protecting personal information and enabling useful innovation.
  5. The bottom line: Your phone is also a surveillance device. Use it with care unless you want your life to be an open book — or map….”

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