Google app "Nearby" - your presence will be known

[Fantail]

Google Will Soon Introduce 'Nearby' To Let Other 'People, Places, And Things' Know When You're Around.
androidpolice.com link-source

"...When Nearby is turned on for your account, Google can periodically turn on the mic, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and similar features on all your current and future devices. Google+ and other Google services need this access to help you connect, share, and more.
When you turn on Nearby, you're also turning on Location History for your account and Location Reporting for this device. Google needs these services to periodically store your location data for use by Nearby, other Google services, and more."

 

[Britton30]

Yay! Google is taking over the jobs of the NSA, CIA, FBI, MI5, Interpol....

 

[Layback Bear]

Yay! Google is taking over the jobs of the NSA, CIA, FBI, MI5, Interpol....

Google has all of them beat hands down.
Google doesn't have to ask for a warrant or go in front of a Senate Committee.

 

[scr]

I find it strange that people do not have any issues with Facebook, Google and other private companies following their every move, purchases, emails, text messages and present location without issue yet will scream, stomp their feet and curse the government if it evens checks emails for terrorism threats. Something is wrong with all of this tracking business no matter who is doing the tracking.

Freedom and privacy falls another notch towards zero.

 

[Britton30]

I have issues with all of them scr.

 

[ThrashZone]

I'm sure this newbie service will be activated "by accident" like Google+ was,
Enrolling everyone with a gmail account to spike usage statistics
Cheers.

 

[andrew129260]

So just keep it off. What is the big deal? It is opt in.

I have a custom rom so this will not have it anyway.

 

[Britton30]

Trusting Google as I do, I suspect they may turn it on while it appears to be off.

 

[ThrashZone]

So was google+
But it didn't quite work out that way in the beginning Oops Google's bad
If Google already had my phone number another Oppsy would again happen most likely,
No number not much of a chance to get opted in accidently

 

[Cr00zng]

I find it strange that people do not have any issues with Facebook, Google and other private companies following their every move, purchases, emails, text messages and present location without issue yet will scream, stomp their feet and curse the government if it evens checks emails for terrorism threats. Something is wrong with all of this tracking business no matter who is doing the tracking.

Freedom and privacy falls another notch towards zero.

It's been below zero for a good while by now and it's probably -20 or less by now...:sarc:

 

[andrew129260]

The problem with tracking is it will never stop, regardless if you do not use those services or not. Just being on the internet you are being tracked. There is no real way to stop it.

 

[grits]

You're right Andrew but "why add insult to injury"? I try my best to steer clear of anything with Google in the name. At one time I was going to try Chrome browser until I found out it was Google. Even here on this forum I see lots of anti-Google posts but yet lots of referrals, gets a bit confusing.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Britton30]

Also if you have any Android device you're "Googleized."

 

[Cr00zng]

Also if you have any Android device you're "Googleized."

As oppose to iCrapped?

Interesting article on the subject:

Ars tests Internet surveillance?by spying on an NPR reporter | Ars Technica