this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024
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Privacy

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You're hiking in the mountains or forest with your phone's GPS location turned off for privacy reasons. Suddenly, you find yourself in a medical emergency in a remote, unfamiliar location. You don't know where you are. You urgently need to call for help, but you're worried that without a precise location, emergency responders won't be able to reach you in time. What do you do then?

Does What3Words app respect user privacy?

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[–] skeezix@lemmy.world 15 points 18 hours ago

Turn on your phone’s gps location and make the call.

[–] Tazerface@sh.itjust.works 5 points 14 hours ago

If you can call for help, you location was tracked the entire time by celltowers.

GPS really doesn't make any difference as it's an incoming signal.

If there is a network connection, the GPS info can be transmitted by Google or Apple.

A degoogled phone wouldn't be sending the GPS location out.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 13 points 18 hours ago

Guess I'll just die. At least it'll be in private. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] merde@sh.itjust.works 7 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

iirc, emergency services do not get your location from your telephone's gps, but through towers that it's connected to

even a dumbPhone can be located through it's cell connection

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 3 points 13 hours ago

Yep thats how it works. Cell tower triangulation makes gps toggling mostly useless. Well except for blocking apps to location

[–] socsa@piefed.social 7 points 17 hours ago

I don't understand the question - just toggle GPS back on for a moment to get your location.

Also, just FYI - having GPS toggled has almost zero effect on privacy.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Cell phones enable location when you make an emergency call. This can't be disabled.

That said, not all 911 systems automatically capture this data, yet.

Also, I wouldn't rely on this. If you have a concern for accurate location for rescue, you'd be doing a lot of other things first, because I assume you are engaged in serious back-country hiking.

I do marginal back-country, on well-known trails. But I leave info about my plans at the trailhead, give similar info to friends, including when to start worrying. A radio that does GMRS and HAM are part of my pack, along with gear for overnight (including food and fire starting gear). GMRS can be useful if emergency personnel are within maybe a mile, or in the same valley, of if the region has GMRS repeaters on visible high ground.

TL:DR - don't rely on cell tech for rescue comms.

[–] LucidBoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 17 hours ago

Are you willing to die for privacy?

[–] brap@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

Use What3Words.

[–] iii@mander.xyz 2 points 18 hours ago

I usually turn on my gps when hiking remotely. It's a usefull feature.