In the privacy community there are services, programs for private maps use. Some even suggest using the phone without a SIM card (which is quite possible, but you can get into trouble). But I don't use them, as my geolocation is already tracked by an advanced camera system in my city, by my cell provider via triangulation. What are your thoughts on this? Do you use OpenStreetMap for private navigation?
Personally not worried, but as a society I am.
I live in the US, and we've seen a rise in some particularly hostile legislation against certain groups of people like in the LGBTQ community. I can foresee precise tracking being used against these groups of people to determine if they've been in the vicinity of a medical provider's office, have traveled across state lines, congregate in certain social establishments, and even perhaps where they vote for representatives.
This information could be used as targeting information for harassment or further punitive legislation. Voting districts could be redrawn to split these populations into minority regions such that they don't have proportional share of representatives. Liquor licenses for "gay bars" could be revoked. Maybe we extend the liquor license revocations to bars which simply tolerate LQBTQ people getting a beer after work.
Maybe tomorrow we change the targeted groups to Muslims. Or maybe NRA members. With the foundations for this kind of surveillance in place, the opportunity for abuse will never go away.
You could have also referenced the abortion issue, where it's been proven without a shadow of a doubt that police are using surveillance powers to monitor women who are suspected of being pregnant and trying to terminate the pregnancy. It's literally already happening in one instance, which helps prove that you're very right in being worried about the things you're worried about. Because those things will surely come to pass as well.
But the comment you're replying to is talking about day-to-day life. Not for most of us, but unfortunately some minorities are being targeted in some places, and the trend seems to be getting worse, not better, in the whole world.
what they've described is going to be day-to-day life thing if people won't oppose it out of convenience.
I personal use graphhopper and it's great but I'm sure my location is still tracked, maybe just not by Google now. You do what you can but there is no way to not have yourself tracked some way or another.
Obviously it's not something you can get up and do but it's something I'd plan out.
There are much more serious disadvantages in the provinces that affect not only tracking but also quality of life :)
