General Discussion

Catherina

(35,568 posts) Sun Aug 11, 2013, 07:14 PM Aug 2013

Why is that billboard smiling at you? Because it tracks your smartphone MAC address to advertise [View all]

Last edited Mon Aug 12, 2013, 09:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Why is that billboard smiling at you? Because it tracks your smartphone MAC address to advertise to you

http://vimeo.com/66074106
Presence ORB - Renew Technologies (R&D)

Edit: Same company now told they must stop tracking people with trash cans

56 replies

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Why is that billboard smiling at you? Because it tracks your smartphone MAC address to advertise [View all] Catherina Aug 2013 OP

Why do you find this scary? Egnever Aug 2013 #1

Maybe he doesn't want the sign knowing his phones MAC address. Rex Aug 2013 #2

Then he should get rid of the phone Egnever Aug 2013 #4

Oh sure get rid of the phone, guilty of driving in public. Rex Aug 2013 #5

Not even sure what that means Egnever Aug 2013 #8

A joke, pretty bad one at that. Rex Aug 2013 #10

Turning off the phone works as well Egnever Aug 2013 #15

It might to you. Rex Aug 2013 #21

The solution is simple Egnever Aug 2013 #24

Did you even read the part about BILLBOARDS? WinkyDink Aug 2013 #12

Yup Egnever Aug 2013 #14

i don't want a store to send me coupons based on my buying patterns, or billboards to target HiPointDem Aug 2013 #40

Then dont use those things Egnever Aug 2013 #45

that would be great advice except for the fact that the range of freedom one has to do that HiPointDem Aug 2013 #49

Well Egnever Aug 2013 #51

what a stupid & condescending reply. HiPointDem Aug 2013 #52

I have a dumb phone and I like it just fine. MADem Aug 2013 #29

I have a company phone and it bothers me a lot. Rex Aug 2013 #30

"paranoia"? Look up the definition. WinkyDink Aug 2013 #11

ok Egnever Aug 2013 #16

Its more comedy movie than horror movie, but its bad. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #7

Abused to do what? Egnever Aug 2013 #9

You're asking to have giant screens over public places broadcasting data from personal lives. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #17

LOL Egnever Aug 2013 #18

Oh, it'll go there. napoleon_in_rags Aug 2013 #22

No. I own a private phone for MY convenience to get JimDandy Aug 2013 #25

Because you are ignorant of the way the phone works Egnever Aug 2013 #27

Don't you read? JimDandy Aug 2013 #31

People want lots of things Egnever Aug 2013 #33

gee, i thought capitalism was all about giving the *customer* what he wants, not 'this is all HiPointDem Aug 2013 #42

Well then you are foolish Egnever Aug 2013 #46

yes, that's what *i* thought. add "increasing their own power" to the mix & you've got it. HiPointDem Aug 2013 #48

Not willing to accept it anymore. JimDandy Aug 2013 #53

Best of luck in your endevaors Egnever Aug 2013 #54

I wait for know-it-all's just like you to start making noise DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #32

Sounds to me like you have a problem with the OP and not me Egnever Aug 2013 #34

No. Your point is that if you can see my street address from the curb... DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #36

Should and can are two different things Egnever Aug 2013 #37

Did I say that hacking phones wasn't possible? DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #38

I would love to discuss. Egnever Aug 2013 #44

My original problem wasn't the ads, although I don't like them DisgustipatedinCA Aug 2013 #47

Still not finding the problem Egnever Aug 2013 #50

So could you just turn off your phone's wifi while in public to prevent this? Incitatus Aug 2013 #3

No Egnever Aug 2013 #6

I generally pick up and discard stuff throughout the store Generic Other Aug 2013 #13

Cell phones are inherently tracking devices Silent3 Aug 2013 #19

Well said. Egnever Aug 2013 #23

I turn my cell phone off when I drive. MineralMan Aug 2013 #20

Have dumbphone. It's turned off 90% of the time. hobbit709 Aug 2013 #26

I have a flip phone, old school. babylonsister Aug 2013 #28

Weird, but not something I'm going to lose giftedgirl77 Aug 2013 #35

Exactly! Egnever Aug 2013 #39

I think it works out well. giftedgirl77 Aug 2013 #43

With maybe 30 cars in the viewing area, how will the billboard decide who to direct the ad to? N/T GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #41

Authorities demand company (Renew) stop tracking Londoners with high-tech trash cans Catherina Aug 2013 #55

Opting in, opting out and data privacy laws suffragette Aug 2013 #56