The ability to do this has indeed been around a long time. The capability was there back when I was doing work for a mobile teleco in 2001 and I am not sure it was new then.
The act of anonymously tracking a phone to identify hotspots and provide information to store owners is not so much an issue from my point of view. I could always switch my phone off as I am of the generation where a mobile phone is not a necessity (unless I am working - in which case I wouldn't be shopping).
It's the ability to match with other data and identify individuals' shopping habits (and more) that is the worrying thing, and if this is not challenged, then this may be the next "survey". This is the issue as far as I am concerned as these things, if unchallenged, just get rolled out into larger and larger areas and end up being much more than they were originally intended. The thoughts in the article as to whether or not it's technically illegal (can you be technically illegal?) are interesting and it will be interesting to see where this leads.
Simon Howarth.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roland Perry
Sent: 29 November 2011 21:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Tracking Shoppers
In message <[log in to unmask]>, at 17:31:07
on Tue, 29 Nov 2011, Ibrahim Hasan <[log in to unmask]> writes
>US Malls Track Shoppers’ mobiles to Gather Marketing Data:
>
>http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/11/malls-track-phone-signals/
But: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/29/cellphone_tracking_nixed/
>Note the technology is from a British Company.
>
>Could be in the UK soon
This article claims it has been for years..
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2067187/Privacy-
invasion-Shops-secretly-track-snooping-mobile.html>
--
Roland Perry
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