Friday, November 25, 2011
"Malls track shoppers' cell phones on Black Friday "
FROM CNN MONEY: “Starting on Black Friday and running through New Year's Day, two U.S. malls -- Promenade Temecula in southern California and Short Pump Town Center in Richmond, Va. -- will track guests' movements by monitoring the signals from their cell phones. Some retail analysts say the new technology is nothing to be worried about. Malls have been tracking shoppers for years through people counters, security cameras, heat maps and even undercover researchers who follow shoppers around.”
Can you opt out?
Well … a clerk may say, “Here, give me the phone you don't want tracked. I'll pass it over this sensor on the counter; the information from your phone is now entered in this 'opt-out' database that would have been captured by the sensors throughout the mall - and now you can go about your shopping experience knowing your movements are anonymous….”
Does that sound to you like a way to trick you into giving out the information anyway?
A better option
Leave your cell phone at home when you head out to shop.
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This is all in preparation to get us used to the idea of microchipping humans. It's better just to stay home and turn everything off. Better yet, just get rid of all your phones. Use Skype instead.
ReplyDeleteMalls are hubs for crime, and many shoppers have family members who might need to contact them or be contacted.
ReplyDeleteTurning the phone off or putting it in a Faraday bag (as simple as a clean, clipped-shut Mylar potato chip bag) might be preferable.
Skype, ha, I bet that is even less secure than a cell phone. Just ditch the cell phone, or get a prepaid one if you must have one.
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