Location data is posing to be one of the biggest concerns in the digital network today. Most users do not wish to share their location anymore, others still ignore it just because they think they are not alone. But no matter what they wish, they are sharing location data in one way or another. Some through Facebook, some through google maps and many many other.

Tracking someone through his/her cell phone network is no more nerdy genius stuff, practically anyone who can use a computer well can track anyone’s whereabouts with just the mobile number.

Applications Of Location Data

Today location data is one of the key players in digital market strategy. It is shared and accessed by many small and large organisations either to provide real-time service like maps or to sell more products through advertisements. Consider Facebook, for example, it knows a lot about you, your name, your date of birth, if you are in a relationship or not, the movies you watch, how long you spend on Facebook, the places you go to etc, and a lot more. All these data are put to use by Facebook, in suggesting you products through adds, suggesting you places to go to, suggesting people you may know. Just for the sake of growing your concern now think about how someone else may use these data.

Data Flows Like Water Down A Hill

According to media report cellular network companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T are selling access to their customers’ location data, and that data is ending up in the hands of bounty hunters and others not authorised to possess it, letting them track most phones in the country. From the top companies to small buyers and third parties, the data flow.

The report presents a piece of clear evidence as to how much exposed the mobile networks and the data they generate really are. The flow of data is never controlled, from the cell phone providers to third parties who may not even have a policy regarding the protection of privacy data. There is a risk, not just of being stalked by your ex-someone but of being spied by an assassin who just wants you killed, that’s the horrifying part we see in a lot of movies.

Providers Vow To End Sharing Location Data

In the past few years, there have been multiple reports from much-reputed news agencies regarding the misuse of sensitive data by many organisations. In the wake, some organisations have come to accept the fact and act upon it or at least comment.

• John Legere, the CEO of TMobile tweeted to Ron Wyden, a US Senator that T-Mobile is completely ending location aggregator work and they are doing it the right way to avoid impacting consumers who use these types of services for things like emergency assistance. He added that It will end in March.
• Reportedly AT&T stated that in the light of recent reports about the misuse of location services that they have decided to eliminate all location aggregation services — even those with clear consumer benefits.
• Verizon made a statement regarding its decision to end its data sharing agreements with companies that do roadside assistance. Also, Moving forward, customers will need to provide permission to Verizon to share their location with these firms.

Conclusion

As data grows limitlessly, the concern will outgrow data. The solution will be to either limit sharing location data or stop it completely, both of which are close to impractical considering the number of devices and applications that are solely built on location data. In the future, we may see more organisations coming up with strict policies to protect private data only for the sake of better customer experience.