I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, and hopefully it does not get any worse that simply scaring a few (possibly niave) people. I am talking about stalking via geo-location applications, such as Foursquare.
Foursquare and other geo-location applications are used on a mobile device, such as an iPhone, and Foursquare can be played as a game by rewarding users by 'checking in' to places. Geo-location applications allow users to 'check in' to the location that they are physically at, such as a bar or a restaurant or their home. When the user 'checks in' to a place, this can be shared with other users over a social media website as well as on other mobile applications. Others then know exactly where that person is at.
Although these geo-location applications can be a useful tool and allow users to meet like-minded people (for dating, socialising, etc), I feel that this is also dangerous. I became interested in this concept when reading about it in a book several years ago where it has taken off in Japan as an application for single people looking for other single people in their physical location. (Imagine that you are at work and would like to meet up for after work drinks with someone. You could log onto the application and see others in your area and ask them if they would like to meet you after work. It's certainly great for networking and finding Mr. or Miss Right because you are meeting people you would not normally meet: strangers.)
It is generally an idea that many dislike the idea of others knowing their every movement and the 'invasion of privacy' argument. Mention Big Brother and CCTV cameras, and some people will get angry and say it is an invasion of privacy, but for whatever reason, some people do not see the problem with publicising their whereabouts. Possibly because it is their choice to do so, or they simply are not the people who care about being monitored on CCTV anyway.
Using these applications potentially opens you up to privacy invasion, being stalked, and burglars could know your whereabouts to determine if you are at home or not. Along these themes, there's a website called "Please Rob Me" (http://pleaserobme.com/) and a stalking website "Let's Stalk People!" (http://www.phonelosers.com/index.php?board=61.0), where members discuss prank calling others to warn them of the dangers of publicising their personal data and whereabouts (1).
I read a news story on Friday which claimed to be the first official reported case of stalking via these applications; a man was allegedly hassled with messages and phone calls from a 22-year-old woman (2). There is another case cited in various blogs; a woman out with her friends in a restaurant was tracked warned by a stalker (3). As stated in the blog, the stalker may have just been trying to warn her of the dangers. Journalist Leo Hickman has also decided to put the stalking theory in practice using Forsquare and found it easy to latch on to one user and learn a lot about her in a matter of minutes (4).
However, many do not see a problem with using geo-location applications. They were recognised by other users and have made friends this way (5). I think that it is possible to embrace this technology, but it needs to be done with caution. For example, users should update their privacy settings and only friend people that they actually know. Be intelligent, learn what data is private or how to make your personal data private, be careful about what you post (keep in mind that the whole world may see it), and be safe.
(2) The Daily Telegraph. Police warn over location tracking site following case of alleged Foursquare stalker, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8244431/Police-warn-over-location-tracking-site-following-case-of-alleged-Foursquare-stalker.html [6 January 2011].
(5) Dolan, Michael. Is this the first confirmed case of Foursquare stalking? http://prbreakfastclub.com/2010/07/15/foursquare-stalking/ [15 July, 2010].
(3) sheasylvia, A Cautionary Tale, http://blog.sheasylvia.com/post/809428679 [13 July, 2010].
(1) Phone Losers of America, PLA Episode #27, http://www.phonelosers.org/pla-radio-episode-27-foursquare-stalking/
(4) Hickman, Leo. How I became a Forsquare cyber stalker. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/23/foursquare [27 July, 2010]
Foursquare and other geo-location applications are used on a mobile device, such as an iPhone, and Foursquare can be played as a game by rewarding users by 'checking in' to places. Geo-location applications allow users to 'check in' to the location that they are physically at, such as a bar or a restaurant or their home. When the user 'checks in' to a place, this can be shared with other users over a social media website as well as on other mobile applications. Others then know exactly where that person is at.
Although these geo-location applications can be a useful tool and allow users to meet like-minded people (for dating, socialising, etc), I feel that this is also dangerous. I became interested in this concept when reading about it in a book several years ago where it has taken off in Japan as an application for single people looking for other single people in their physical location. (Imagine that you are at work and would like to meet up for after work drinks with someone. You could log onto the application and see others in your area and ask them if they would like to meet you after work. It's certainly great for networking and finding Mr. or Miss Right because you are meeting people you would not normally meet: strangers.)
It is generally an idea that many dislike the idea of others knowing their every movement and the 'invasion of privacy' argument. Mention Big Brother and CCTV cameras, and some people will get angry and say it is an invasion of privacy, but for whatever reason, some people do not see the problem with publicising their whereabouts. Possibly because it is their choice to do so, or they simply are not the people who care about being monitored on CCTV anyway.
Using these applications potentially opens you up to privacy invasion, being stalked, and burglars could know your whereabouts to determine if you are at home or not. Along these themes, there's a website called "Please Rob Me" (http://pleaserobme.com/) and a stalking website "Let's Stalk People!" (http://www.phonelosers.com/index.php?board=61.0), where members discuss prank calling others to warn them of the dangers of publicising their personal data and whereabouts (1).
I read a news story on Friday which claimed to be the first official reported case of stalking via these applications; a man was allegedly hassled with messages and phone calls from a 22-year-old woman (2). There is another case cited in various blogs; a woman out with her friends in a restaurant was tracked warned by a stalker (3). As stated in the blog, the stalker may have just been trying to warn her of the dangers. Journalist Leo Hickman has also decided to put the stalking theory in practice using Forsquare and found it easy to latch on to one user and learn a lot about her in a matter of minutes (4).
However, many do not see a problem with using geo-location applications. They were recognised by other users and have made friends this way (5). I think that it is possible to embrace this technology, but it needs to be done with caution. For example, users should update their privacy settings and only friend people that they actually know. Be intelligent, learn what data is private or how to make your personal data private, be careful about what you post (keep in mind that the whole world may see it), and be safe.
(2) The Daily Telegraph. Police warn over location tracking site following case of alleged Foursquare stalker, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8244431/Police-warn-over-location-tracking-site-following-case-of-alleged-Foursquare-stalker.html [6 January 2011].
(5) Dolan, Michael. Is this the first confirmed case of Foursquare stalking? http://prbreakfastclub.com/2010/07/15/foursquare-stalking/ [15 July, 2010].
(3) sheasylvia, A Cautionary Tale, http://blog.sheasylvia.com/post/809428679 [13 July, 2010].
(1) Phone Losers of America, PLA Episode #27, http://www.phonelosers.org/pla-radio-episode-27-foursquare-stalking/
(4) Hickman, Leo. How I became a Forsquare cyber stalker. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/23/foursquare [27 July, 2010]
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