[1vuio0pswjnm7]

I remember going to AAA offices where they would pull out a map and use highlighter on the spot and mark up the map in front of you. Nothing was prepared in advance.

Google Maps is constantly making weasel changes to try to get people to sign in and inserting ads for businesses. OpenStreetMaps is great offline, no sign-in required, but it's still too janky.

[nerdbert]

OSM is far superior to Google or Apple if you're not driving or riding public transit. They have much better pedestrian/cycle accessibility data. Google will send you on preposterous detours on a bike, whereas OSM gives you exactly what you need to know to take the shortest viable route.

[dimator]

Well, realistically, if the AAA highlighter operator was later compelled to testify as to your driving plan, they would.

[1vuio0pswjnm7]

Google does not need to go through the courts to obtain not only the driving plan but also where the maps user actually travels.

Google does not need to file a complaint that survives a motion to dismiss, reach the discovery phase of litigation and then subpoena AAA in order to obtain a driving plan for one specific driver. It continuously collects driving plans passively and indiscriminantly.

In litigation, testimony might be sealed. The data Google collects via Google Maps has no such protections available.

Let's be "realistic". Most people getting maps highlighted at AAA offices were not parties in lawsuits, the AAA employees that provided maps to them were not deposed by lawyers, and their driving plans were not used to prop up on online ad services racket. Yet every person that uses Google Maps is being surveilled for commercial purposes.

Flooding the web with more programmatic advertising.