Google User Data Has Become a Favorite Police Shortcut

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-09-28/google-user-data-is-police-s-top-shortcut-for-solving-crimes

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152 points · 10 comments · view on lemmy.world

10 Comments

HootinNHollerin@sh.itjust.works · 25 pts · 2y
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BeanCounter@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 2y (7 replies)
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TeaEarlGrayHot@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 2y (4 replies)

Perhaps not, but your mobile carrier will! I use a Pixel 5 with LineageOS installed (and no google services), but I also needed to install Google Docs for a project (since the web interface refuses to load on Android) which means that Google is still able to access my IP address--but I think that's better than Google's "location history", or Play Protect on Android sending a list of all installed apps

DeflectedBullhorn@lemmy.one · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Out of curiosity, if you’re on a Pixel, why not choose GrapheneOS?

TeaEarlGrayHot@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2y

I generally like being as close to mainline/AOSP as possible, and I used LineageOS for years on my Essential PH-1. That being said, it does look like the Pixel suffers from no lack of custom ROMs, so I may "distro hop" for a bit in the future

BeanCounter@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)
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BarrelAgedBoredom@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y

Who's your carrier? I've been considering a switch to lineage or graphene but I haven't pulled the trigger yet

JSocial@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 2y

Yup. The tracking stuff just makes it easier, but standard use of the phone sans tracking is still trackable.

iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
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canihasaccount@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y (3 replies)

What works as a phone app instead of Google Maps? The only thing I've seen is Magic Maps, but that shares location data with third parties, so that seems like an awful solution.

float@feddit.de · 5 pts · 2y (1 reply)

There's OsmAnd and Organic Maps (and probably more). Both are open-source apps, use Openstreemap data, and work offline. You can get OsmAnd+ for free on F-Droid. If you want support the devs you can buy it in the Play Store. There's also a free but limited version there.

cwdolunt@dice.camp · 4 pts · 2y
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Diamond_AaronXG@mstdn.party · 3 pts · 2y

@canihasaccount @throws_lemy organic maps or opentreetmaps

macallik@kbin.social · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Paywalled

narp@feddit.de · 8 pts · 2y

Click on the archive link!