Google Latitude

“Google Latitude”

“Google Latitude allows you to share your location with friends and view their locations on a map. Latitude is completely opt-in, so you must enable it before you can start sharing location and can disable it at any time. Google Latitude is a new feature for Google Maps on your mobile device. It’s also an iGoogle gadget on the computer. Once you’ve opted in to Latitude, you can see the approximate location of your friends and family who have decided to share their location with you. And with Latitude, not only can you see your friends’ locations on a map, but you can also be in touch directly via SMS, Google Talk, Gmail, or by updating your status message. To use Google Latitude and accept location sharing requests, you must sign into Latitude using a Google Account. Google Accounts include Gmail usernames, Google Accounts you’ve created for other email addresses, and Google Apps accounts.”

 

Possible Privacy concerns

The sensitivity of location data can violate privacy. However, with this you not only control exactly who gets to see your location, but you also decide the location that they see.  Everything is under your control and, of course, you can sign out of Latitude at any time. Google Latitude notifies the user of the device that it is sharing the location of the device. The service allows the user to decide how much information to submit, who to, and also allows the user not to share any information at all. The negative effect of Google Latitude allows the user to control their privacy settings when they are running Google Latitude, what if the user doesn’t know they are running it? It is the concern that Privacy International has been raising. As the program doesn’t notify the user that it is running, depending on the situation, the user could be completely oblivious to the fact that their location was being broadcasted to whoever the employer set it up to broadcast to.

Concerns of my image being added into social networking sites

Getting my pictures added into social networking sites is dangerous. Other people that I don’t know can see my latest pictures and see what possessions I might have. I also risk getting my identity taken by someone who wanted to use my picture and using it to meet my friends and family.

 

 

Possible implications of Facebook privacy concerns

On Facebook, things such as, photos, images, wall-to-wall’s can be publically placed on the news feed, where strangers are able to stalk the people they want. Secondly, if you don’t put the privacy “lock” on your facebook (like me) random strangers are able to look through your profile as if they were your “friend.” Secondly, your bosses at work are able to see what you’re up to, and they may even judge you from what they see on your facebook. Also, when facebook asks you to put your email, or mobile number, or your work place, or birth date and current school, it is very easy to be tracked down.

 

Employers could and/or should use the internet to research possible new hires or current employees

Employers should not use the internet to research people that are applying for a job because it can cause discrimination. People should get the job if they are capable of doing it regardless of their appearance. If employers used the internet for researching people, they could discriminate people they do not like based on their picture or online profile.