• @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    512 days ago

    They don’t have to be connected to see your device. Just like how Find My Device works by searching for the Bluetooth signal. You’d need to have Bluetooth completely off, so no smart watches or headphones for you in the grocery store I guess.

    • @willougr
      link
      English
      212 days ago

      Indeed! If Bluetooth is enabled on your device it will send beacon/polls and so be visible.

      The recent “Find your offline devices” enhancement to Android’s Find My Device app has made me wonder if having Bluetooth off is even enough?

      • @CatZoomies
        link
        English
        412 days ago

        Exactly, and this is additionally why it is predatory: you can’t opt out.

        It’s similar to Facebook. If you never in your life ever created a profile, well, Facebook has one for you regardless.

        The only way you can opt out of bluetooth beacons is to not bring your phone/smart watch/etc, or have either a hardware switch that disables your network functions or put it in a faraday cage. Also, because of data profiles and associations, if you’re walking into a store with your partner, expect that your partner should do the same or else it’s all moot. You’re associated with your partner and thus tracking and profiling occurs anyway.

        • @willougr
          link
          English
          2
          edit-2
          10 days ago

          Yay technology!

          <sigh>

          iBeacon and Eddystone

        • @pdxfed
          link
          English
          111 days ago

          Add in the facial recognition technology they’re also deploying and go to the next level of Dante; what do people’s habits who look like “x” who are with people(kids, partners, friends) who buy “y” and don’t buy “z”?