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GrapheneOS Location Services
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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Privacy
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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
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for those who have trouble understanding this
Passive Tracking (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Beacons)
Your phone constantly searches for nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals.
Retailers place Wi-Fi routers or Bluetooth beacons in stores to detect these signals.
Each device has a unique MAC address (though modern phones often randomize this to prevent persistent tracking).
These devices log when and where a phone is detected, creating a record of customer movement.
What They Can Track:
When a customer enters or exits the store
How long they stay
Which areas of the store they visit
Repeat visits (if the MAC address isn’t randomized)
Whether they've visited other locations (if the same system is deployed across multiple stores)