News Report #2

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/04/google.latitude/index.html




CNN.com / By Stephen Shankland

2/4/09

Google has just launched a branch of new software that can track any of your friends mobile phones to precise locations, They hope that users will take full advantage of this software to keep in touch with their friends and relatives. For “Latitude” to work, all parties must set up their cell phones with the program. Google has incorporated many features into this new software, it lets you essentially “hide” where you are at or even set any location you wish for people to see. What Google intends to get out of this software is location based advertising. Google claims that it works in over 27 countries and will work on any blackberry, (and iPhone very soon). It works by determining your position from 3 separate sources which are, GPS, cell phone towers and even wireless networks.

I personally see no reason anyone would want this kind of software, I think that it is an invasion of privacy. I for one would not like my friends to know where I am 24/7. When I get a mental image in my head of who would be using this, I think of some overzealous husband, tracking his wife’s every movement. With the features that Google has included, it not even good for that. The only possible application I see for this software is with employers and employees, possibly delivery drivers. Google has come out with a lot of neat stuff lately but I think that this just crosses the line, the line of privacy.