[Keloo]

The google maps data showing makes sense (you're using maps, so why not offering the timeline of places you visited on maps).

But the FB location history to me is just out of the blue. FB was meant to be just a social network, why the heck do they need that information, I thought FB just connect me with my friends (and do things related to that). It's a bit abusive imho.

P.S. I'm aware of all the scandals, regulations, profile shadowing etc.

[RaleyField]

> so why not

Sorry but this is fucked up. Why not not. Yesterday's discussion on overheads of GDPR rattled me into mild headache and today you prove why exactly GDPR came to be. It's none of <oversea corporation XYZ>'s business to know where I've been. That's why not.

> But the FB location history to me is just out of the blue

It's analogous.

[Keloo]

> It's none of <oversea corporation XYZ>'s business to know where I've been

Totally agree with you.

What I'm trying to say is that the `location history` as a feature makes sense in google maps, because, well it's a map app.

But the fact that FB knows where I've been even though I don't have the FB app on the phone, only the Messenger Lite, is a total surprise to me.

[RaleyField]

> well it's a map app.

20 years ago when the world ran on paper maps people didn't need to communicate their location to map makers via phone, so why would they have that need now?

[Keloo]

We are not 20 years ago, the location history can be useful to a lot of people and in a map app this feature deserve it's place (with the possibility to opt out of course).

I understand your frustration, but I think we are exaggerating a bit because of these FB scandals. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure Google is abusive in data collecting too. But it doesn't mean we need to cut all the nice features from now days technology.

P.S. Overall I agree with your point, and I think GDPR is a good start in regulating Evil corps. Hope I don't contribute to your headache today :)

[RaleyField]

> We are not 20 years ago

We both know that, but if you tried to say that people's needs have radically changed in that time then I fail to see how.

> can be useful to a lot of people

It sounds to me more like an excuse product managers have come up with to explain away why one would plausibly use an invasive feature most people wouldn't give informed consent for. And a lot of people isn't most people or most informed people. I would think most people would be satisfied with offline location bookmarking just as they were with sharpie scribbling 20 years ago. And if they were properly informed they probably wouldn't agree to 24/7 tracking with a chance of loan or job denial on the off chance that it will help them find a place they've forgot to bookmark and couldn't possibly find it via google no matter how hard they tried.

> GDPR is a good start in regulating Evil corps

Yes, evil corps are evil but GDPR is completely mindbogglingly shit start. And it makes things worse. Ask yourself, how do you authenticate a person who emailed you GDPR data request? How do you know you aren't talking with your user's spouse or a hacker and are make things worse for that user by dumping data to requester?

[lostlogin]

> How do you know you aren't talking with your user's spouse or a hacker and are make things worse for that user by dumping data to requester?

Playing devils advocate here - don’t store a single thing more than needed. It’s a toxic liability.

[7Z7]

>if you tried to say that people's needs have radically changed in that time then I fail to see how.

Their needs have changed, because their expectations have changed. 20 years ago I didn't expect my map to be able to ask my calendar when I had to be at a place, to figure out ahead of time the best route. It's a niche example but I think the point stands.

[StavrosK]

> so why not offering the timeline of places you visited on maps

Because I don't want them to store it. It's ridiculously user-hostile and privacy-intrusive that Google maps won't even save your searches if you have location history turned off.

If only my phone had some sort of area where you could store data locally, then maybe I wouldn't have to keep typing the same thing over and over again in Maps. One can only dream.

[reubenmorais]

> you're using maps, so why not offering the timeline of places you visited on maps

That functionality is tied in with Google Assistant as well, so if you have it enabled it tracks your Android phone all the time, not just when you're using Google Maps.

[em3rgent0rdr]

> "why the heck do they need that information"

So that they can make money so that they can provide the social network services for free to everyone, so that they can actually have a large social network.

[SmellyGeekBoy]

They make money by selling ads. I'm not sure why storing users' entire location history helps with this.

[em3rgent0rdr]

so they can make more effective ads.