Android 15 could allow devices to be tracked even when switched off
Android 15 could allow devices to be tracked even when switched off
www.androidcentral.com
Android 15 could allow devices to be tracked even when switched off
- Android 15 is expected to introduce a Powered Off Finder API.
- This API will enable compatible devices to be tracked even when switched off.
- The feature is expected to be available on the Google Pixel 9 series, and the Pixel 8 series.
On one hand, this is great for lost or stolen phones. On the other hand (and rest of the body), this is horrible for privacy.
The Dangerous Criminal (Poor) has always been used to justify asking people to give up their freedoms, in exchange for "safety".
And most of the time, the danger is close to made up. "Reality inspired", if we were to be poetic about it. (Can't say about this case, maybe your city is full of pickpockets unlike mine. But this API sure seems neither opt-in, nor like it's going to be "limited to a select few models" going forward, to me...)
It's a trade in risk. There's the really severe risk of being hacked, which has an incredibly low likelihood, vs the relatively low severity risk of compromised privacy but with an absolute certainty for likelihood.
Personally, I prefer to take my chances with the high severity/low likelihood. But then, I'm also disgruntled that people don't realise they're basically being robbed of $100 every year, if not more, in terms of the value of their data.
I live in London. This feature is a must. The amount of theft in recent years is just bonkers.
I have never had my phone stolen. My data on the other hand...
I say let them do it....on devices that have a removable battery only
Thieves will just dump your phone in a Faraday cage anyway, defeating the purpose.
If it's a problem for you then turn it off in settings.
The fact that it's a feature at all implies that other, possibly nefarious actors, have the ability to track it too
This is a great feature ngl. It may not be any use for majority users here but it's a must have in my country for women. We already have government apps that track location if opted in but they only work as long as the phone isn't switched off. Idk if it also requires a different hardware but if it was software only then it would be easy to install in existing phones.