[whoopdedo]

When someone uses an app such as Yelp it's like valet parking. They know they're handing over something vital, but its with the expectation that the company will provide something of value in exchange, and trusting that they won't use it for more than that. Yes, you're allowing a company to track your movement (for the purpose of grading restaurants). And yes, you're allowing someone else to drive your car (for the purpose of finding a parking space). If you find out a third-party is tracking your location though, that would be as if someone other than the valet were driving your car. And when they use it for their own gain in a way that doesn't return anything of value to you, that would be considered joyriding.

[mlthoughts2018]

“I hand over my data in exchange for the app handing over a valuable experience or service” is the hugest lie in the business. This is exactly what the disingenuous marketing doublespeak of Yelp and Foursquare says.

In reality, most users really do not understand or consent to the level of data tracking and are very confused about terms of use or privacy settings in the app or just on their device.

The big problem is that it is just not possible for the vast majority of people to have enough expertise or technical know-how to give anything resembling informed consent. Whatever the user is agreeing to, it emphatically is not anything like consent.