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Location data from 40,000 apps worldwide: New research shows how precisely people can be identified using location data from data traders. We’ll show you how you can better protect yourself from it.
For many people, it is hard to imagine life without the smartphone. Already using it in Germany more than 80 percent of the population a smartphone – and the trend is increasing.
But constant networking can also have its downsides. This is shown by international research, among other things Netzpolitik.org and the Bavarian Radio (BR) were involved.
For their research, the journalists evaluated a previously unknown data set from a data broker. The data it contained was sometimes so precise that people could be identified precisely.
These apps share location data with data brokers
For the research, 380 million location data from 137 countries were evaluated, which were collected on one day in July 2024. These probably came from 40,000 apps worldwide, including dating apps or apps for weather reports. Around 800,000 people are affected in Germany, some of whose very precise location data can be found in the data set.
What is particularly problematic is that the apps from which the data presumably comes are also many of the most used in Germany. These include Wetter Online, Classifieds, Flightradar24 and Focus Online.
The location data is so precise that the research team was able to use it to identify people and get in touch with them. These were then able to confirm the precise location data, for example of places of residence and work.
Approximate location data, presumably derived from IP addresses, is believed to come from apps such as Candy Crush, Tinder, Grindr and Lovoo. But the email apps from Web.de and GMX are also included.
How do such data sets come about?
This data set comes from the US data broker Datastream. The data itself probably originally comes from personalized online advertising, for which app providers pass on information about their users to marketers in real time.
According to its own data protection regulations, Wetter Online, for example, works with more than 800 such companies. According to the BR, there are also numerous companies based outside the European Union, for example in Brazil, Singapore, the USA or Hong Kong.
“Very few users are aware of the extensive profiles that can be created about them,” explains data protection lawyer Martin Baumann from NOYB to the BR. Since the data for these profiles can also come from data brokers, it could also come from places with which the people “never had anything to do directly”.
This is how profiles are created from the location data at the data dealer
The data record contains a unique identification number for all users. People can also be recognized in other data sets using this so-called Mobile Advertising ID.
The BR and Netzpolitik.org report on an example from Lower Bavaria. By comparing it with other data sets, the research team was able to find out the exact place of residence and other private details about a woman.
She therefore lives in a single-family home and has visited a nearby special clinic, which also allows conclusions to be drawn about sensitive health data. In a conversation with the research team, the woman confirmed the data and also explained that she uses the Wetter Online app.
This way you can protect yourself and your smartphone better
If you want to protect yourself and your data better in the future, you can make some settings on your smartphone. For example, it is possible to switch off the Mobile Advertising ID.
On Android, you can make this change in the settings under “Google (Google Services)”. Click here on “All Services” and then Advertising.
On your iPhone you will find the Screen Time menu item in the Settings. Here you can deactivate the app tracking requirements if there are restrictions.
It is also advisable to consistently reject app tracking and cookies in general. Sharing the exact location data is usually unnecessary, as a search for the exact location – especially with weather apps – usually leads to the same result.
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As a Tech Industry expert, it is concerning to see millions of user location data appearing online without their consent. This breach of privacy highlights the importance of taking proactive measures to protect ourselves in the digital age.
One of the first steps individuals can take to protect themselves is to be cautious about sharing their location data with apps and websites. It is essential to review the privacy settings on our devices and only provide location information to trusted sources.
Additionally, using virtual private networks (VPNs) can help encrypt our internet connection and make it more difficult for hackers to access our location data. Regularly updating our devices and using strong, unique passwords can also help prevent unauthorized access to our information.
Furthermore, being mindful of the permissions we grant to apps and regularly reviewing and revoking access to unnecessary data can help reduce the risk of our location information being exposed online.
Overall, staying informed about potential privacy risks and taking steps to proactively protect our data is crucial in safeguarding our digital identities in today’s interconnected world.
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