Google Timeline (Scarey)

I thought it’s been made clearer that this is the case that Google enable this. You can turn it off, and I believe can do it on initial setup of an Android device. I think even more scary is how accurate it is! If you drill down per day, it’s uncanny how accurately it’s tracked me. More so when I’m cycling I think than when I’m in the car… But it pretty much tracks my exact times and routes of commutes. I would have turned this off in the past, but it’s actually reasonably interesting seeing it.

I know the phone companies are doing this anyhow – see this Ted talk. At least I get to see the information this way as well.

Dave, we get people round our way who move about like you. They’re called Travellers and they are always blocking up space in car parks from Skeggy to Cleethorpes. ?

EDIT in fact they don’t ‘Travel’ as much as you do, which is part of the problem…

Dave Rice wrote:

I think Bobs calling me a pikey! Now you know why I cropped it at Holyhead

Never mind Dave, my Gran was a Real Romany! Born in a Romany van somewhere in the West Country in 1878, no birth Cert, never registered, but her mum & dad never let her forget the date.

So I am the one here with the Pikey blood!

Yer all Gawjos! ?

Dave Rice wrote:

If you’re not paying tax things are a lot more affordable.

“Ain’t that the truth!!”+1?

As far as Google Timeline is concerned it shows a lot, and very accurate that is too – which is less of a problem, especially now that I know about it 🙂 – but there is a lot missing too.

It seems to pick up stuff that has been actively looked at along with other factors. It shows a relative’s address that I researched before she moved in last year using Google Maps, plus she’s in my phone Contacts. It doesn’t show our rental property which I also Googled a lot, using Street View, but I’ve also spent a goodly amount of time there over the last year and more so over the last week since that tenant left. Yup, it’s re-furb time.:(

It’s interesting to see what it needs to add an “event” to the page.

Edit – Quote from the Duke – “Never mind The tax, I don’t they paid wholesale for anything.”

Never mind wholesale, there’s a lot that wouldn’t have been paid for at all.

In our local paper, the news that the Circus/Funfair/Traveller’s Camp is in town, is usually followed a month or so later, by an article about the increase in petty theft and burglaries!!

TBH I’m a little paranoid about tracking apps and so I have my location turned off.

I don’t mind either comes in handy often . Your tracked wither you turn it off or not, so you may as well leave it ‘on’ and get the personal benifits from them.

Just simple security – never make it easy for others. Make it ‘hard’ for NSA/GCHQ. Do not hand them the info on a plate, make them get Court Orders.

You never know when Governments or the Grey Government will go ‘bad’. Both the UK and the US have done ‘bad things’ to their own populations in the past, and the future has the potential to be far worse.

Dave, I can only agree that for you the capability is all positive and I envy your being able to take such trips, though my destinations of choice might well be different. I checked my google plots of movements. Back and forth to the tip, the supermarket, the doctor, the pharmacy and even a slightly miss placed plot of a walk to a post box, boy that was exciting as a different walk. The rest of the time it did not move anywhere.

I hope that those who worry about mobile phone tracking never use a cash card, credit card, mail order or for that matter a bank either as all are tracked and mined actively for a chance to work out your social background, tastes, desires, wants or what can be sold to you – or if you are spending more than your declared means suggests you should. Probably best not to have a TV or an  entertainment account with anyone either.

Oh and forget using a car as ANPR and video observation is everywhere these days, though possibly not when it is most needed. Encoded public transport tickets are another tracking risk, better avoid them and walk everywhere. Also avoid social media as that is a happy hunting ground for so inclined trolls and sundry malcontents. Few if any of whom have any connection to the two, three or four letter spy agency acronyms, though they can be far more vicious and unpleasant.

Above all enjoy your trip Dave but do not make me too envious by reporting too great a time, Google already tells me what I am missing!