Another reason to ride an ebike: privacy

[Mr. Coffee]

CBP does end run around warrants, simply buys license plate-reader data

How does “unreasonable search” work when any agency can buy data from anywhere?

arstechnica.com

 

[Art Deco]

CBP does end run around warrants, simply buys license plate-reader data

How does “unreasonable search” work when any agency can buy data from anywhere?

arstechnica.com

Once self driving cars are common, I don't think it's likely that anyone will be allowed to drive themselves on the high speed interstate highways. And the highways will be lined with cameras ...

 

[BET]

CBP does end run around warrants, simply buys license plate-reader data

How does “unreasonable search” work when any agency can buy data from anywhere?

arstechnica.com

If the data is available for anyone to buy it is not a search. If something is in plain site, like your tag, also not a search.

 

[RandallS]

Sorry, but the good ship Privacy sunk years ago. By posting on this forum you are clearly using technology, and most people use the tech of cell phones.

I am not a conspiracy guy, but I am retired from many years of communications technology work, and my opinion is such that unless you get rid of pretty well all your modern conveniences, you are being tracked.

So, to return to the original concept of an ebike offering more privacy than a car, I suppose it would be to some degree, but not really. Not withstanding places that require registration and licences for e-bikes like Stefan has to deal with in Poland.

Just my $0.02 - not trying to create any political fracas.

 

[Art Deco]

Sorry, but the good ship Privacy sunk years ago. By posting on this forum you are clearly using technology, and most people use the tech of cell phones.

I am not a conspiracy guy, but I am retired from many years of communications technology work, and my opinion is such that unless you get rid of pretty well all your modern conveniences, you are being tracked.

So, to return to the original concept of an ebike offering more privacy than a car, I suppose it would be to some degree, but not really. Not withstanding places that require registration and licences for e-bikes like Stefan has to deal with in Poland.

Just my $0.02 - not trying to create any political fracas.

In the US, ebikes are small potatoes, no one requires a liscence or collects user fees. In Europe it's very different. But your cell phone location is always tracked, b/c it's built in to your phone, easy peasy.

 

[J.R.]

PA state police have been using license plate readers for 7 years, one of the first. If I recall correctly in the beginning they could read 500 plates a minute at highway speeds. Now? PennDOT sells the information. Over the last 2 years they made 90 mil from selling drivers info.

 

[Art Deco]

PA state police have been using license plate readers for 7 years, one of the first. If I recall correctly in the beginning they could read 500 plates a minute at highway speeds. Now? PennDOT sells the information. Over the last 2 years they made 90 mil from selling drivers info.

I didn't know that but not surprised. For those who do not live in Pennsylvania, Pa. is very intrusive about your car or truck on the roads with required annuall inspections, and high minimum fees for even a taillight out or ...

 

[J.R.]

I didn't know that but not surprised. For those who do not live in Pennsylvania, Pa. is very intrusive about your car or truck on the roads with required annuall inspections, and high minimum fees for even a taillight out or ...

I believe it's because PA is extremely rural. In the top ten most rural states. And generally speaking on the poor end of the spectrum. The 90 mil I noted went to road repair.

Of course I don't spend all of my time in my township. It's a big township, one of the biggest in the county. There's no town, no traffic signals and no retail establishments. They don't allow developments and there is no police department. I might see a state trooper twice a year. A lot of PA is the same. Mostly left alone.

As for the inspections, I agree they are intrusive. Science has proven there are only a few areas of the state that need emissions tests. It's been brought up in the legislature many, many times. It's a money maker. I have a good friend who owns a repair shop and inspection station. The emissions test is pass or fail, no ambiguity there. The safety inspection often includes a wink and a nod. You still have to pay the piper though. We've never had a vehicle fail either inspection.

 

[Art Deco]

I believe it's because PA is extremely rural. In the top ten most rural states. And generally speaking on the poor end of the spectrum. The 90 mil I noted went to road repair.

Of course I don't spend all of my time in my township. It's a big township, one of the biggest in the county. There's no town, no traffic signals and no retail establishments. They don't allow developments and there is no police department. I might see a state trooper twice a year. A lot of PA is the same. Mostly left alone.

As for the inspections, I agree they are intrusive. Science has proven there are only a few areas of the state that need emissions tests. It's been brought up in the legislature many, many times. It's a money maker. I have a good friend who owns a repair shop and inspection station. The emissions test is pass or fail, no ambiguity there. The safety inspection often includes a wink and a nod. You still have to pay the piper though. We've never had a vehicle fail either inspection.

I actually don't mind the inspections myself ... and used have annual inspections done, anyway. Much more through and expensive than the state one done at the same time. But I don't drive much anymore, many of you ride further in a year than I drive.
But the point was privacy. Those inspections carry a lot of information of interest to advertisers and others.

 

[Alex M]

your cell phone location is always tracked, b/c it's built in to your phone.

2 conditions must be met:
1) Cell phone must be On.
2) GPS must be On.

I only turn my cell phone on when there is some possibility of important incoming calls, which is - probably - less than 12 hours a day. You may also temporarily disable your GPS tracker, then whoever wants to track you, will have to access cell towers data and triangulate your location, this will be imprecise and would require certain level of authority.

 

[Art Deco]

When riding my cell phone and GPS location are both ON.

 

[indianajo]

But your cell phone location is always tracked, b/c it's built in to your phone, easy peasy.

Yes, but my cell phone has no data tying it to me. It is a burner, paid for with cash in advance, and because I won't register it or give google my name address, birthdate, license number, mother's maiden name, I'm not allowed to print or upload any pictures I take with it. It doesn't have GPS, although they can always tell what tower the phone is serviced by. What numbers I call could be a pointer if I became important enough for the FBI to track me, but I'm not.
The cold calls I get are ludricrous. I got one last week announcing that the vendor had a perfect match in his extended warrenty program for my vehicle! Which is an electric bicycle: I don't drive cars anymore. I also am frequently invited to handle and carry packages for local employers for an amazing $12 an hour! I'm 70 years old with US Army damaged knees.
My minister gets text messages offering him a coupon on do-nuts everytime he drives by a paying shop. He buys do-nuts for the church on Sundays. That type of intrusion drives me nuts. It takes 15 seconds to get the phone out of pocket, open it up, and several keystrokes to erase a text message. I'd do without a phone, but I might get knocked off the bicycle by a car anytime, and nobody monitors CB radio anymore. I also fall in sinkholes on my property, climb 24' ladders and do work with electric saws, change transmissions etc under vehicles, and various other risky work - alone. My new hobby is a crane for snagging and removing dead falls from trees. Lots of adventure in my life, absolutely no interest in watching or helping from anybody. A friend got hung up for 5 hours in a hi-lift on his property last year caused by a safety switch. No cellphone in his pocket- I hope he has learned to carry his this time. He broke his neck 2 years ago mowing the lawn and had to walk back to the house, because he didn't carry his phone.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

...then whoever wants to track you, will have to access cell towers data and triangulate your location, this will be imprecise and would require certain level of authority.

Depending on where you are that "imprecision" might be on the order of a few meters or a few kilometers. The really advanced algorithms use time differences between multiple towers (you need later-generation cell networks to do this) and can be scarily accurate (less than 3 meters with enough data).

In theory you need a court order to pull that information together, but all of the cell companies sell their data so if you were willing to write big enough checks you can stalk anyone you like.

 

[draver]

Yes, but my cell phone has no data tying it to me. It is a burner, paid for with cash in advance, and because I won't register it or give google my name address, birthdate, license number, mother's maiden name, I'm not allowed to print or upload any pictures I take with it. It doesn't have GPS, although they can always tell what tower the phone is serviced by. What numbers I call could be a pointer if I became important enough for the FBI to track me, but I'm not.
The cold calls I get are ludricrous. I got one last week announcing that the vendor had a perfect match in his extended warrenty program for my vehicle! Which is an electric bicycle: I don't drive cars anymore. I also am frequently invited to handle and carry packages for local employers for an amazing $12 an hour! I'm 70 years old with US Army damaged knees.
My minister gets text messages offering him a coupon on do-nuts everytime he drives by a paying shop. He buys do-nuts for the church on Sundays. That type of intrusion drives me nuts. It takes 15 seconds to get the phone out of pocket, open it up, and several keystrokes to erase a text message. I'd do without a phone, but I might get knocked off the bicycle by a car anytime, and nobody monitors CB radio anymore. I also fall in sinkholes on my property, climb 24' ladders and do work with electric saws, change transmissions etc under vehicles, and various other risky work - alone. My new hobby is a crane for snagging and removing dead falls from trees. Lots of adventure in my life, absolutely no interest in watching or helping from anybody. A friend got hung up for 5 hours in a hi-lift on his property last year caused by a safety switch. No cellphone in his pocket- I hope he has learned to carry his this time. He broke his neck 2 years ago mowing the lawn and had to walk back to the house, because he didn't carry his phone.

I have both Verizon and T-Mobile on my daily use iPhone. I'm curious who your cell carrier is, and what amount and how you pay for service? The current dual carrier phones might be a way for you to have selective use of newer features like GPS or other benefits. I too stay far away from anything Google touches, as they seem to be the largest data gathering outfit in the world. You can also use a foreign sim like "3" from the UK to really "Go Dark", LOL. They roam in the US as an included feature.

 

[indianajo]

I seriously do not want GPS. I don't like being tracked. I know where I am at all times, I memorize maps, look at the sun & stars. I was using t-mobile for $8 a mo but they don't have service at my summer camp. Verizon does for $30 a month, anonymous cash in advance at a dollar store. They are the last major with flip phones that will ride in my pocket as I fly off the bike after being hit by a car. When 4"x6" phones become the smallest choice, I'll cancel cell service.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

In the US, ebikes are small potatoes, no one requires a liscence or collects user fees. In Europe it's very different. But your cell phone location is always tracked, b/c it's built in to your phone, easy peasy.

Almost all EU e-bikes are treated as regular ones. Only fast commuters (S-Pedelec) need a registration and insurance but no license.

 

[draver]

I seriously do not want GPS. I don't like being tracked. I know where I am at all times, I memorize maps, look at the sun & stars. I was using t-mobile for $8 a mo but they don't have service at my summer camp. Verizon does for $30 a month, anonymous cash in advance at a dollar store. They are the last major with flip phones that will ride in my pocket as I fly off the bike after being hit by a car. When 4"x6" phones become the smallest choice, I'll cancel cell service.

On EBay you can purchase a Verizon sim from Red Pocket Mobile for a flat $60. It has service for 360 days with 500Mb data, 100 minutes of calls and 100 texts per month. Probably the best US coverage. I put on in my wife’s iPhone XR behind her main T-Mobile main line. No taxes, and the sim & shipping are both free. You can monitor your usage on line if you choose.

If you are worried about “Big Brother”, have it purchased by a friend and mailed to their address I suppose.

 

[antboy]

2 conditions must be met:
1) Cell phone must be On.
2) GPS must be On.

For pinpoint accuracy, true, but "triangulation" has improved over the years, especially in more tower-dense settings. I believe it's called "advanced multilateration", which combines traditional tower triangulation (signal strength and time differentials) along with different formulas to plot out location probability maps.

This allows unique identification, even in the cheapest of flip phones, even without a SIM, at the network level, so that Enhanced 9-1-1 services would work, regardless of the underlying phone technology generating the signal.

It's been a long time since I've read about it, but it's interesting stuff, even if it's somewhat creepy.

Long story short, if your phone is on, even if it doesn't have a GPS/Glonass, it's being tracked at the network level.

 

[indianajo]

If you are worried about “Big Brother”, have it purchased by a friend and mailed to their address I suppose.

I don't want text messages offering coupons for my friend's shopping habits, either. No **** text messages from non-contacts. Every one wastes 30 seconds. I can't even see the phone image outside in the daylight, coupons as I pass a store my friend shops at on my bicycle are a total waste of time.
Google is amazingly stupid. I obviously get ads when I use the wwweb to view forums. Google always feeds me an ad from a vendor I just used, advertising product I just bought. If I just bought some, I don't need anymore. Fortunately, scrolling down to see the actual forum or email I am looking for doesn't take 30 seconds, since the mouse is not located in my pocket.
I'd like to see emergency services triangulate my location when I fall down a sinkhole at my summer property. There is one tower 5 miles away, not visible from my roof. Only Verizon & sprint use it. 500 yards further out the road cell service stops entirely.

 

[draver]

If you already have a Verizon line and don't get a bunch of texts from it, what makes you think you would be getting them from a Red Pocket Verizon number? My wife's line doesn't and she has had that line for over 6 months so far. If your friends' personal phone number or email is not included in your phone you will not get his solicitations. I believe Red Pocket does not market the lines for commercial use, since it hasn't happened to us yet. Seems like a waste of $25 a month to me. I'm just trying to save you some money here, maybe consider researching the suggestion. You could save $300 in a year.