so, how does your FB data get used?
#136
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
#137
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Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,033
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
When I get in my car in the morning, my phone displays (on the lock screen, without prompting) "32 minutes to work. Traffic is light."
When I get in my car at the end of the day, "32 minutes to home. Traffic is light."
I've never seen this other than when I get in my car. Not sure what triggers it. Could be GPS location, time of day, orientation of the phone as I put it in the cradle, connecting the power or a combination of all of these. It just knows.
I have even, on occasion, got in my car at lunchtime and it has told me time to my preferred lunch destination even though I have never requested directions there.
When I get in my car at the end of the day, "32 minutes to home. Traffic is light."
I've never seen this other than when I get in my car. Not sure what triggers it. Could be GPS location, time of day, orientation of the phone as I put it in the cradle, connecting the power or a combination of all of these. It just knows.
I have even, on occasion, got in my car at lunchtime and it has told me time to my preferred lunch destination even though I have never requested directions there.
#138
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
Got an alert from Google Maps this morning of an accident three miles ahead of me. I hadn't searched for a route, nor the destination, nor is it a road that I usally travel on (it is almost a month since I last travelled that way), so I assume that Google is not only tracking my location but also the direction I am traveling.
1) 'settings', 'personal', 'Accounts', then entries for 'google', 'Microsoft Exchange Active...', 'SmartThings' (this is a new toy I'm playing with), etc. Selecting 'google' here shows my gmail account, and choices for (eg) 'sync App Data', 'sync chrome', etc (all on).
2) 'settings', 'personal', 'google'. (so this is a 'peer level entry' to 'accounts'). Here I see entries for all manner of things. I see 'Ads', and then an option to 'Opt out of Ads Pesonalization'.
3) 'settings', 'personal', 'Location' (another 'peer level entry' to 'accounts'). Apps listed as being recent requestors of location include 'google', maps, weather, etc.
#139
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
Using (eg) Google Maps on a phone is a very useful feature. Google has spent billions creating maps, streetview, 3D views, traffic flow analysis, etc, and we are able to use this useful information without direct charges, in return for letting google see where we are, and allowing them to push ads to us based on that location. Turning off the GPS in your phone is cutting off this amazing free set of features. But I must say I'm not quite sure yet how they do all this!
As an aside, I really like 'Open Street Map' - OpenStreetMap . There was a very interesting story about it in the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...-openstreetmap . It lacks many features, though, compared to Google Maps.
#140
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
It just gets better and better...
Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil
Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil
#141
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
Well I think it's very interesting and important to 'know' what data is being gathered, and how it is being used, BUT - at the end of the day, you are getting a massive amount of useful (sometimes!) free information as a result.
Using (eg) Google Maps on a phone is a very useful feature. Google has spent billions creating maps, streetview, 3D views, traffic flow analysis, etc, and we are able to use this useful information without direct charges, in return for letting google see where we are, and allowing them to push ads to us based on that location. Turning off the GPS in your phone is cutting off this amazing free set of features. But I must say I'm not quite sure yet how they do all this!
As an aside, I really like 'Open Street Map' - OpenStreetMap . There was a very interesting story about it in the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...-openstreetmap . It lacks many features, though, compared to Google Maps.
Using (eg) Google Maps on a phone is a very useful feature. Google has spent billions creating maps, streetview, 3D views, traffic flow analysis, etc, and we are able to use this useful information without direct charges, in return for letting google see where we are, and allowing them to push ads to us based on that location. Turning off the GPS in your phone is cutting off this amazing free set of features. But I must say I'm not quite sure yet how they do all this!
As an aside, I really like 'Open Street Map' - OpenStreetMap . There was a very interesting story about it in the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...-openstreetmap . It lacks many features, though, compared to Google Maps.
#142
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
It just gets better and better...
Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil
Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil
#143
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
on NPR this morning.
I am sure nobody is surprised at this now.
Facebook Enabled Ads Targeting Anti-Semites : NPR
I am sure nobody is surprised at this now.
Facebook Enabled Ads Targeting Anti-Semites : NPR
#144
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,452
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
Cambridge Analytica, the Trump campaign’s voter data firm, is being investigated in Congress’ Russia probe.
House committee will be investigating Cambridge Analytica. That's the outfit financed by Robert Mercer that's been mentioned quite a few times in this thread. Steve Bannon used to work there, and he still has a major financial stake in it. Cambridge Analytica is also under investigation by British regulators, in regard to the Brexit referendum & Russian involvement.
House committee will be investigating Cambridge Analytica. That's the outfit financed by Robert Mercer that's been mentioned quite a few times in this thread. Steve Bannon used to work there, and he still has a major financial stake in it. Cambridge Analytica is also under investigation by British regulators, in regard to the Brexit referendum & Russian involvement.
#146
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
FB finally starting to get it's act together.
Facebook suspends controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica - BBC News
Facebook suspends controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica - BBC News
#147
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,452
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
What did Facebook know about Cambridge Analytica’s work, and when did it know it
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...=.9abd0ec27dde
Apparently Michael Flynn had an advisory role with Cambridge Analytica. WaPo also asks the question, was Cambridge Analytica advising the Russians?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...=.9abd0ec27dde
Apparently Michael Flynn had an advisory role with Cambridge Analytica. WaPo also asks the question, was Cambridge Analytica advising the Russians?
#148
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
Just in case anyone was still in any doubt about this ...
#149
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
The internet has given a voice to pretty much everyone and that means that there are many "voices" out there and that like-minded people can, relatively easily, find and support each other.
In principle, this sounds like "a good thing" but what we seem to have ended up with is more like a Tower of Babel with everyone promoting their own views and few even attempting to listen to anyone else.
In the bad old pre-internet days there were plenty of people with crazy ideas but, if they wanted to broadcast those ideas to other people it required them to spend time, effort and money on actually writing stuff down on paper, showing it to other people and trying to drum up support. If their idea was reasonably popular then it could often get widely disseminated because others who agreed with the original author would lend their help to the effort. There was, however, a pretty effective limit on the amount of really crazy stuff that got beyond the originator's family and immediate acquaintances. That limit is now gone and every idiot on the planet from the President of the United States on down is only one tweet away from a potentially world wide audience. This is not good.
In principle, this sounds like "a good thing" but what we seem to have ended up with is more like a Tower of Babel with everyone promoting their own views and few even attempting to listen to anyone else.
In the bad old pre-internet days there were plenty of people with crazy ideas but, if they wanted to broadcast those ideas to other people it required them to spend time, effort and money on actually writing stuff down on paper, showing it to other people and trying to drum up support. If their idea was reasonably popular then it could often get widely disseminated because others who agreed with the original author would lend their help to the effort. There was, however, a pretty effective limit on the amount of really crazy stuff that got beyond the originator's family and immediate acquaintances. That limit is now gone and every idiot on the planet from the President of the United States on down is only one tweet away from a potentially world wide audience. This is not good.
As much as I thoroughly dislike Trump, all this tells me is that he did a better job of using the technology tools available to him than Hillary did. When Obama won in in 2008 and 2012, he was hailed as the technology master, out-doing his opponents in using social media and other technology tools.
Last edited by jeepster; Mar 21st 2018 at 6:42 pm.
#150
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: so, how does your FB data get used?
I'm not suggesting anything to limit freedom of speech.
I am saying that not everyone's speech is worth *listening* to (and, since I am not the government, *I* am free to say that).
I am saying that it is regrettable that the cost of broadcasting worthless thoughts and ideas to millions of people is now so low that nobody need think twice before doing so.
I am saying that not everyone's speech is worth *listening* to (and, since I am not the government, *I* am free to say that).
I am saying that it is regrettable that the cost of broadcasting worthless thoughts and ideas to millions of people is now so low that nobody need think twice before doing so.