Public Health Admits it Tracked 33 million Mobile Devices

[MikePal]

I mentioned this was happening earlier and the real purpose of Health Canada apps...so no big surprise, but nice to have them admit it.

Also vindicates those who have been accused of conjuring up 'conspiracy theories' in regards to privacy and surveillance concerns.

The Public Health Agency of Canada accessed location data from 33 million mobile devices to monitor people’s movement during lockdown, the agency revealed this week.

“Due to the urgency of the pandemic, (PHAC) collected and used mobility data, such as cell-tower location data, throughout the COVID-19 response,” a spokesperson told National Post. The program’s existence was first brought to wider attention by Blacklock’s Reporter.

PHAC used the location data to evaluate the effectiveness of public lockdown measures and allow the Agency to “understand possible links between movement of populations within Canada and spread of COVID-19,” the spokesperson said.

“The pandemic has created opportunities for a massive surveillance surge on many levels—not only for public health, but also for monitoring those working, shopping and learning from home.”

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...uring-lockdown

[FishHog]

not sure why anyone didn't assume this, same as any of the other 100 apps most people have on their cell phones.

[newbiehunter]

Note the dates:

from from Jan. 2019 until the end of the contract period on May 31, 2023, with possibility of three one-year extensions

That's before lock down started...



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[newbiehunter]

not sure why anyone didn't assume this, same as any of the other 100 apps most people have on their cell phones.

Surely no surprises, the devil is in the details on the scale of this operation:

"de-identified cell-tower based location data from across Canada”

Cell-tower location data is not your app data (where in theory you can block the app from accessing your gps inside if the phone. Or click a button to "opt-out". Although, even that doesn't necessarily even work)

Cell tower data is collected on mobile carrier by triangulation(https://itlaw.fandom.com/wiki/Cell_tower_triangulation)


So the following statement is a complete bs :

The contractor must provide anonymized data to PHAC and ensure its users have the ability to easily opt-out of mobility data sharing programs


Since cell tower does not talk to any of apps on your phone, it's just tracks mobile signal strength. Thus to opt-out, there is probably some hidden procedure that public was never told about (call in to provider to mark IMEI of the phone or something)

Essentially, everything done to make it miserable to try to opt-out while their backside is covered legally



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[trimmer21]

The best way to defeat surveillance is to leave the phone turned OFF until you need it.

[Fisherman]

The best way to defeat surveillance is to leave the phone turned OFF until you need it.

Bingo. But can you imagine the heads exploding.

[Species8472]

The best way to defeat surveillance is to leave the phone turned OFF until you need it.

Off often is not good enough. GPS tracker can still be followed when off. Need to remove the battery or better yet just get rid of the damn thing.

[js4fn]

Can you imagine my pings lol. I’m either west of London ont. Or kingville Ohio,ashbula Ohio ,Cleveland
And only have to actually move 50yd.

[dean.f]

A few people turning off their phones isn't going to prevent them from studying the millions who didn't.

I'd feel sorry for whoever dedicated their time to surveillance of my activities, they would be pretty bored. I think if it's a problem I'll just stop paying the bill.

[newbiehunter]

Off often is not good enough. GPS tracker can still be followed when off. Need to remove the battery or better yet just get rid of the damn thing.

According to Snowden, the mobile devices have redesigned specifically so that you cannot remove the battery to address it.

In all smart phones , technically you don't even know if the phone is off..the fact the screen and alarm not blinking does not mean anything

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