iPhone has become a stalker

[breakinglight11]

So I just updated my phone to iOS6, and it came with a program called Find Your Friends. It is, apparently, a way to connect with other iPhone users to allow them to see where you are at any given moment. Pretty much the address of your exact GPS-targeted location.

...

Is anybody else FREAKED THE FUCK OUT BY THIS?

I HATE having my comings and goings monitored-- by parents, by friends, by anyone. I don't want anyone to be able to check where I am at any given time! Do you see the amount of scrutiny you'd be opening yourself up to? "Why didn't you come home last night?" "What were you doing out so late?" "Why did you go to that bad neighborhood?" "Who were you seeing?" "What took you so long?" "That's not where you said you were going to be!" "You told me you were busy but you were home all night!" Oh, my God, that is horrifying to me. All privacy would be gone! There could be eyes on you every moment!

Who wants that? Who wants their every movement tracked by people whenever they feel like it? Who is the target market for this feature? Or is it just so that the police can use it to find you or that authorities can use your activities against you?

Not cool, Apple. Not cool.

Comments

[iagotolycus.livejournal.com]

That is just creepy. I think I'll stick with my dumbphone. Waiting for apple to get sued in conjunction with a stalking/kidnapping case now.

[lisefrac.livejournal.com]

Find My Friends has been around probably since iOS 5. I know my 4S came with it on it. AFAIK it's opt-in--you have to send friend request type thingies to people to track them.

[laurion]

It is totally opt-in, you have to authorize people to be able to track you, and for how long. It was available previously too, but now Apple is alerting you to the availability of it as a free download.

I've used it with a friend. He was driving the subject of a surprise party, and I was able to track him surreptitiously so as to get the timing of the surprise right for the subject. It was highly effective.

I also see it being useful in group outings where you might want to meet up with people. Picture three or four friends going out to a theme park or county fair, all perhaps going to different rides and attractions, but wanting to be able to easily see where the rest of the party is, and make it easy to find people when it is time to eat together or gather up and head out to the car.

Totally opt-in, and under your control the entire time.

[songindarkness.livejournal.com]

This is REALLY freaky to me. The criminal uses are countless. I bet stalkers are really happy today. :S