What was initially welcomed as a convenient travel planning and
navigation tool is now cause for concern. Location based mobile service
are lately being viewed with suspicion, fueled by security alert that
iOS apps are tracking and recording geodata since the past several
months without obtaining user consent. Another alarm sounded off when
some apps were discovered to have been dispersing location data for
unethical use. Although these apps were immediately removed from the mobile app stores, people are still doubtful about how many of such apps exist.
While mobile companies promise strict monitoring, a study of 1000
Americans revealed that majority use location based services despite
concerns because of the invaluable information provided. It may be for
entertainment purposes such as shopping and gaming. You know exactly
where to go if you are in a new locality. From the business perspective,
users can expand their network locally. Corporate events can be
tracked by distance of location.
Locations are tracked by linking apps to the Core Location Framework,
which comprises different location services via WiFi, GPS or built-in
cellular information. If users do not wish to reveal their location,
they have the option to disable the service from the settings or switch
to ‘Airplane mode’ to prevent location identification.
From their end, Apple officially announced that location based apps
are not allowed in their iOS store solely designed for targeted
advertising. App developers have been warned to observe this policy or their app will be barred from their store.
For secure use and to save battery power, Apple recommends users
should switch off the service when not in use, opt for the
‘significant-change location service’ rather than the standard location
service on the iOS and to maintain low resolution values.
Users are also advised to read the agreement prior to installing the
app, which should spell out exactly how their personal data will be
used.
Forbes suggests that there should be global standard for users to use
color signals that inform and authorize app developers about the extent
of location data that can be obtained. Imaginative, but tricky.
For now, mobile companies need to work on providing better coverage
and power. App developers need to give users a strong incentive to
obtain location data in apps. Similarly, businesses need to work in
cohesion with mobile companies to optimize location based apps that will
benefit the user, the developer, and their firm.
This post originally appeared on Socialjitney.
