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ICE buys tool to monitor millions of smartphones. Experts say it’s dangerous (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 2 days ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/privacy@programming.dev

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In a redacted acquisition document obtained by the tech news site 404 Media, the immigration agency proposes entering into a contract to buy “all-in-one” tools from a company called PenLink that will allow agents to “compile, process, and validate billions of daily location signals from hundreds of millions of mobile devices.” The document also mentions payments for services involving “face detection,” “advanced face search,” and a “dark web data feed.”

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[–] whosepoopisonmybuttocks@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I think the problem is that once your phone knows its location from GPS, google and apps can access this data. The data is then shared with advertisers and also, you know, government agencies.

Unfortunately, even just the names of nearby WiFi networks and Bluetooth connections can be used to determine location. If apps and google services have access to this info, they still have location data on you, even with your cell and GPS radios disabled.

Supposedly GOS doesn't allow google or apps to access the location data unless you allow it, which is nice.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This isn't an issue if you don't install gapps and if you deny apps location data

[–] whosepoopisonmybuttocks@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think the point was that its an issue on phones with a standard android setup.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Gapps isn't installed by default when you install Android.

[–] whosepoopisonmybuttocks@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I'm definitely not an expert here and it sounds like you probably know more about this than I do. In my experience, android phones I've bought come with google play already installed and cell carrier bloatware. When you turn on the phone for the first time, one of the first steps is setting up your Google account.

If your point is that you can get around all this with stock android and you don't specifically need grapheneOS, you're probably right.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Not just Graphene. Install any Android OS on your phone, and it won't have gapps.

It requires a manual step to install the google proprietary spyware crap. By default it's excluded.

I think most IT departments strip off the OS that comes with laptops, due to spyware and bloatware that comes stock from the OEM install. I'll never understand why its normalized to reinstall the OS on laptops but not for mobile. I always wipe and reinstall as soon as I open the box. It's best practice.