Comment on Bluetooth 6.0 adds centimeter-level accuracy for device tracking — upgraded version also improves device pairing

• CatZoomies@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  No tinfoil hat needed. Retail stores are equipped with Bluetooth that tracks and monitors customer behavior. This in turn can be sold for targeted advertising. Another scary thought is that the tracking is so precise, it measures the distance your phone is from a product, including height. How high is the phone from the ground? The data points can be extrapolated to influence product placement: what products and prices influenced a customer to bend down and look at/interact with the product? How long were they there? Did they buy it? Were they looking for coupons in my “retail store app”?

  Tracking is so predatory. Makes me look at my smart phone with disgust as the years go by, and I periodically grapple with the decision if a smart phone is even right for me or if it’s time to stick to a computer and a truly dumb phone going forward.

  Some public info about Bluetooth beacons: nytimes.com/…/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy…

  Want to find Bluetooth beacons? Simply install a Bluetooth scanner app from your phone and head to a store to see them.

  Here’s how Shopify engages businesses on how to utilize Bluetooth beacons with their software package. Bought anything online? That site was most likely powered by Shopify: shopify.com/…/the-ultimate-guide-to-using-beacon-…

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  • willougr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    <Replaces tin foil hat with Fedora>

    Thanks for all this info - I feel less crazy now!

    Some supermarkets are using digital price displays now. Can’t wait for the “adaptive pricing” like the personalised advertising in the film Minority Reports!

    Here comes Bluetooth MAC address: DE:AD:BE:EF. He often pauses near the chocolate biscuits so pikely buys some. Lets update the choc biscuit pricing removing the sale pricing as he’ll buy them at full price anyway…

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  • Emerald@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    These beacons are small, inobtrusive electronic devices that are hidden throughout the grocery store; an app on your phone that communicates with them informed the company not only that you had entered the building, but that you had lingered for two minutes in front of the low-fat Chobanis.

    Well that solves the problem. Don’t let sketchy apps access your Bluetooth/location

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    • xthexder@l.sw0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      They don’t have to be connected to see your device. Just like how Find My Device works by searching for the Bluetooth signal. You’d need to have Bluetooth completely off, so no smart watches or headphones for you in the grocery store I guess.

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      • willougr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Indeed! If Bluetooth is enabled on your device it will send beacon/polls and so be visible.

        The recent “Find your offline devices” enhancement to Android’s Find My Device app has made me wonder if having Bluetooth off is even enough?

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  • herrvogel@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Wait, don’t Bluetooth devices randomize their macs like wifi to hide their identities from unpaired devices?

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• OutsizedWalrus@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Well, lucky for you, it’s all camera based now.

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  • willougr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Thank Covid that surgical masks in public are a thing!

    I don’t actually wear a mask shopping nowadays but some of those who have been around the sun many times do. Perhaps we should?

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