this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2026
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Privacy
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See my earlier answers. I'm not justifying any of that infrastructure or behavior, only trying to highlight that this information, namely that OP is walking around the neighborhood, where and when, is already available to numerous of the actors including :
So... the question IMHO is : is there are NEW data with or without the camera network? I'd argue marginally more.
sane neighbors won't take notes if you, they won't build a profile of you that can meaningfully be used for nefarious purposes.
5G, yes, but how accurate is 4G for that purpose? 4G transmitters are not placed as densely as 5G, and the frequency range it uses also makes it less suitable for that, as I know.
for that you can limit your phone to 4G, it may even save you power. and you always have the choice to put your phone to airplane mode. if you find it useful and you are a little determined, you could even automate it with tasker.
you can choose a mobile OS that doesn't do that. for now..
you mean by your MAC address, when your phone is scanning? better android roms randomize that too, maybe some phones do that on stock OS too.
you can win a lot by not installing any app a shop wants you to have. they are taking advantage of the gullibility of the average person. lots of those bait apps are just a website anyway, and if you use them in a browser, they have access ro much fewer things.
but you are talking about apps with location tracking. which ones you mean? I only allow that permission for apps that I trust. on modern android, you can can give only approximate location, which is somewhat better.
I don't get this one. your devices, or those of others? BLE 5 has MAC address randomization
the government can barge in my door. does that mean I shouldn't keep data brokers out of my life? to me it doesn't. I think we already tackled network operators and OS maintainers too.
yes, there is, I think
To clarify I listed here behaviors that I believe is common. I'm NOT listing behaviors that somebody privacy conscious is. That same person could around the neighborhood with a hoodie, glasses, hygiene mask just the same way.
What I was trying to highlight wasn't extreme behavior, one way or another, but rather typical ones.
these methods are available to anyone. if a person is bothered by the constant video surveillance of public spaces, they probably also care about other sources of data leaks, against which they can protect themselves.
there's no need for defeatism.
Most of what you listed is a problem. One more company having data on you is one more problem.
Yes, I didn't say this was OK. What I'm saying rather is trying to highlight the lack of novelty.