I currently use “The Transit App” for navigating by transit. How bad is that privacy wise? I know it tracks your location at least while you’re in the en route mode because it advertises that as part of its real time tracking system, and I’m torn on whether I’m okay with that given that I directly benefit from the improved real time data whenever someone else taking the same line is end route (you can see transit vehicles being tracked by another user’s app session vs data from the transit agency itself). Is there anything more shady going on with that app? Is there any way to tell whether it’s recording my motion sensors? Is the generic sounding name intentionally hiding that it’s made by the CIA or something?

  • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
    1·
    6 months ago

    The transit app does utilize motion sensor data to try to guesstimate your position while you are in subways or other areas with low GPS reception.

    Here’s the privacy policy: https://transitapp.com/privacy-policy (Aug 14 2025 archive version). They have the who, what, where, when and why and how your data is used all in the policy. It’s quite readable, and on 3rd party data sharing, they list out what they collect and which third parties they give it to.

    The app is made by a company based in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Personal information data is stored in Canada and the EU, location data not tied to your personal info is collected and stored in the US. The company has at present committed not to sell collected info to databrokers and advertisers, but they do provide it to researchers and transit agencies.

    My privacy model is that if I am to consent to my data being collected, I need to receive a tangible benefit that is directly related to the data given. So location advertising to help myself and other people around me know where the bus is is an amazing benefit all around. So I use that feature.

  • Autonomous User@lemmy.worldBanned from communityEnglish
    1·
    6 months ago

    Which libre software licence text file does it have, none?

    So, we don’t control it. We can’t fork it. How are going to stop it abusing us? We don’t.

    We know who has the power here. It’s not us users.

    How many times are we going to get rekt by the same old scam?