Comment by mcny

Comment by mcny 15 hours ago

3 replies

No, please read the article. No one is saying carriers cant triangulate but carriers shouldn't be able to query the gps on my device and get precise GNSS data.

> Apple made a good step in iOS 26.3 to limit at least one vector of mass surveillance, enabled by having full control of the modem silicon and firmware. They must now allow users to disable GNSS location responses to mobile carriers, and notify the user when such attempts are made to their device.

tekla 15 hours ago

I did read the article fine, thanks for asking.

The crux of the argument seems to come from this

> It’s worth noting that GNSS location is never meant to leave your device. GNSS coordinates are calculated entirely passively.

OK so? The fact that GPS is calculated passively means nothing about the phone being asked what its position is after the fact.

The article admits this capability is no secret

> These capabilities are not secrets but somehow they have mostly slid under the radar of the public consciousness.

If the article just wants to say phones should block that ability, fine. But don't pretend this is some shady BS.

  • kortilla 15 hours ago

    > slid under the radar of the public consciousness.

    It is shady BS, and it’s why this phrase appeared in the article. Just because industry insiders are aware doesn’t mean it’s not shady.

    The same applies to modern cars reporting their information back to manufacturers.

benSaiyen 15 hours ago

Please reread OPs comment

They never said "triangulate" but read phone for information. Your inner monologue swapped what was written with an already understood technical method.

And just because access to GPS has never been confirmed publicly before does not mean they previously only relied on tower triangulation.

Worked for Sprints network team before they bought Nextel. We had access to eeeeverything.