The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/05/23/google-now-knows-when-you-are-at-a-cash-register-and-how-much-you-are-spending/ reports that Google has talked retailers into sharing data from credit card transactions, which it will link to location and other data, to further enhance consumer profiling*.
The article says "Google for years has been mining location data from Google Maps in an effort to prove that knowledge of people's physical locations could "close the loop" between physical and digital worlds. Users can block this by adjusting the settings on smartphones, but few do so, say privacy experts.
This location tracking ability has allowed Google to send reports to retailers telling them, for example, whether people who saw an ad for a lawn mower later visited or passed by a Home Depot. The location-tracking program has grown since it was first launched with only a handful of retailers. Home Depot, Express, Nissan, and Sephora have participated."
* and erode privacy.
The article also makes it clear than consumers don't get to opt-out, if they even find out their data has been shared.
(Score: 2) by quietus on Wednesday May 24 2017, @05:10PM (2 children)
Are you saying here that EU governments are tracking your location, and/or buying history?
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Wednesday May 24 2017, @05:30PM
I am saying that if they want to, they can get access to that data from the banks.
As for location, there are enough CCTV cameras around here that the pretty much know where I have been every single day, at what time, so yes, they are.
I suspect it varies by government. I get the impression the German government is far more restricted in what it can do vs say, the French or UK governments, who have far more power in this area.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 25 2017, @07:58AM
In Denmark, the process is called Registersammenkørsel, where they aggregate all data on you from Kommunal (your CPR number and passport number, everywhere you worked, any interactions with Kommune, properties, family status, your registered place of residence, schools you been to) and bank systems (raw transaction history), complete with your full dossier from police and whatever MP might have on you... Not sure if municipal authorities can request the list of numbers you have called, as a part of their investigation...
If spy agencies (PET and FET) have anything on you, they will probably not share the data they have on you with anyone, unless its somehow helping them and their mission. But they have their own surveillance budget and answer to noone. Only police and up can legally request data from third-party companies, that operate on danish soil and have data on you... Doesn't mean that an illegal request wouldn't be accommodated, as long as right person asking right person for appropriate data.
If its a criminal investigation, they might also request ALL data that telecommunication providers hoard, as required by law; usually last 5 years (or was it 3?) of recorded voice and sms, locations and such. Nowadays i imagine they also collect every URL you request and every DNS request you make, also last 5 years allegedly... not sure if that law was passed tho. I act as if they do *shrug*
It's not government or local municipality gathering the data, but they can have it within five business days or so, cos it's all pre-gathered already.