Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AUTHORITIES IN LONDON’S financial district have ordered a company using high-tech rubbish bins to collect smartphone data from passers-by to cease its activities, and referred the firm to the privacy watchdog.
The City of London Corporation, which manages the so-called “Square Mile” around St Paul’s Cathedral, said such data collection “needs to stop” until there could be a public debate about it
The start-up company responsible, Renew, claims the technology could help advertisers tailor their marketing campaigns based on how often people pass a certain shop and how long they stay in there.
Chief executive Kaveh Memari said trials were at a very early stage and his company was only counting the number of people walking past — without collecting any personal details.
He dismissed as alarmist concerns that individuals were being tracked, telling AFP: “We can’t really track people, we don’t see people — all we see is a device.”
But a City of London spokesman said:
Irrespective of what’s technically possible, anything that happens like this on the streets needs to be done carefully, with the backing of an informed public.We have already asked the firm concerned to stop this data collection immediately and we have also taken the issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
(Image: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire)
Renew installed its high-tech recycling bins around London during last year’s Olympic Games. The “pods” are bomb-proof and wi-fi-enabled and have digital screens showing real-time financial information, adverts and local information.
They company hopes to expand to other cities including New York, Dubai and Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting the 2016 Olympics.
This summer, the firm began testing if the pods could collect data from smartphones, and during one week in June registered more than half a million unique devices.
It recorded the brand and also hopes to map footfall around specific areas, which it said “provides an unparalleled insight into the past behaviour of unique devices – entry/exit points, dwell times (time spent in a location), places of work, places of interest, and affinity to other devices”.
However, Memari said this was still in the future, telling AFP:
The implications of where this technology could go, got a lot more exciting than actually what our trial was.
He compared the technology to websites which count the number of hits or unique visitors — they provide a measure of use but do not know who those people are.
And he insisted that using such data for targeted advertising — for example by noting that a person regularly visits one coffee shop and showing them ads for a rival chain — would be implemented in discussion with data protection groups.
He said: “Future developments will not just depend on technology, but also, most importantly, on people being comfortable with interactive technology.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The west is too weak on border security. If you entered illegally you should be sent home within days.
@Brian Boru: Maybe if the west stayed out of other countries and refrained from stirring up coups, then there would be less turmoil, resulting in more stability, which in turn would mean less people on the move.
Some might say, if America refrained from stirring up coups in SA, said continent would be rife with communist tinpot dictatorships. For example when Cuba fell to Castro’s communist regime, it almost started WW3 via Russia wishing to install nukes there, but it also initiated an exodus of people from Cuba to the USA. Point being, whatever regime evolves in a poor country, you will always get a people with envious eyes looking to migrate to a richer country. Question is, how long before said richer destinations implode under the pressure of poor immigrants? Or is this too much truth?
@Keth Tgi: Was the USA involved in confrontations with an independent country, the answer is yes, which backs up the comment made. If countries involved in a political struggle, then it is up to that country to confront it not outside forces. You didn’t mention how Castro ousted the criminal/terrorist Batista in your analysis of the situation, you also failed to mention how the mafia had a grip on the country and was using the island to launder it’s ill gotten gains. Castro fixed the problem, not Batista and not the USA.
@bernard berry: I also forgot to mention that the USA led by JFK, who’s father’s past was suspect to say the least, used said Italian organization (sam giancanna + co) to try and eliminate Castro. This is the same JFK adored by the Irish who himself only became president after a campaign led by the Italian organization to make him president.
I would have thought that the US is quite underpopulated at 330 million for such a vast country, all free open economies need a steady flow of cheap labour, now criminals you don’t want so I understand vetting of new migrants is required, I just think republican politicians opposed to any Mexican and central Americans arriving is more about future voting habits, and not really about criminality. A bit like our own DUP up the road, they just can’t handle their voting block been slowly diluted. Texas republicans just can’t have Texas becoming a California. The criminality thing in my opinion is just a red herring. It’s more about the browning of southern states but especially Texas.
@bernard berry:
True, not all facts were present, but neither were existing facts untrue. I wonder what the Cuban people would make of your reply?
@Keth Tgi: As I have said, I think it is for the people of the nation in question to fight their own political fights.
One could also aske the population of our own country their feelings on the present government, I am sure there would be a mixed reaction depending on the people asked, one might get very different opinions.
P.s. I don’t want to come across as hostile towards your or your comment, I just feel that these extremely complex situations can be made to appear as simple, when in fact they have multiple facets of complexity.
@bernard berry: I will finish by saying one more uncomfartible truth…
Castro sCuba was/is designed for it’s people, He chucked out the criminals and those alligned to the former dictator, along with anyone else that wanted to leave. The USA’s part of Cuba is used for illegal torture and rendition, who is the righteous and who is not, depends on how one views situation. Personally , I would rather live in Castro’s Cuba than live in America’s Cuba.
@bernard berry: Thanks Barry. I think I see where you’re coming from.
@Keth Tgi: Barry, Bernard, what’s in a name : )
Would be quite easy to close borders if the state really wanted to.
Have they taken down the great big wall that the obnoxious Donald built? It was the greatest big wall ever built. Ever! It was a beautiful wall.
MILLIONS of people will flood in according to Donald. MILLIONS? Hyperbole at its finest.
have your say