Telus sharing personal location data with PHAC

[Rhoro]

I'm personally concerned that Telus shared personal location data with the Public Health Agency of Canada. Although Telus states the data was anonymized, depending how much and how detailed the data was, it wouldn't be difficult for PHAC to identify the home address of any phone number. I would like Telus to be transparent with account holders about the detailed data provided, and whether we agree to share, before *any* individual's data is released to*any* external party. The next time I learn Telus has shared any such data, I will close my long-standing account.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-public-health-agency-admits-it-tracked-33-million-mobil...

[WestCoasterBC]

Anyone with a cellphone is tracked by our government already. Canada joined 5 eyes for a reason some anonymized data is the least of anyone's worry. Unless you never own a cell phone you will be "tracked" in some fashion. Even you using your browser, google, google maps etc you're being tracked and giving a slew of data without your knowledge.

You can read more on data for good here. 

[polecat]

@Rhoro  Just google your own name ----- see what is there ------ even your name on utube ----showing what you look at.......... they whoever that is knowns how much toilet paper you use in a year,

[Nighthawk · Accepted solution]

If you think Telus is their only source of data, you'd be mistaken. The government can get the anonymized location data from all providers rather easily. Detailed location data usually is only possible though the proper legal channels.

Microsoft also collects a massive amount of data on users. The telemetry is built into Windows so Microsoft knows how many times you've even opened a specific program or file. Facebook and Google are very invasive in their tracking, even if you've never created an account. Amazon is another bad one for tracking users, again even if you've never created an account with them. Those companies can identify everything about you, especially if you have an account with any of them. Crave's website actually has Tiktok analytics on it now in addition to the long list of other analytics trackers on there. There are so many other trackers out there it's impossible to count them all. They're hidden in the apps on your phone/tablet, the apps on your computer, and pretty much nearly every website in existence. 

There is no easy way to avoid being tracked unless you get rid of the modern conveniences of technology and go back to a landline, buy everything with cash, and never connect to the internet.