Google/Apple Maps Blogpost

I must say that it freaks me out when I see the amount of information that is stored in regards to my online or even real-life activity. From internet search history to my daily travels and most frequent locations, so much data is registered while I go on unaware. For instance, I could search for different items on Amazon, and then would see advertisements on different websites with items that I looked at from hours before. Obviously this has capitalistic benefits because it reminds consumers of potential offers that they could tap into, but that register of info can be extremely off-putting. However, I honestly was not surprised by the amount of data Apple has on my locations by the time I started this assignment. I have location services turned on for maps and for many other services within my phone, so I openly allow Apple to have access to my locations in many scenarios. However, I also know that Apple has access to other user settings, and Google has access to all of my search histories and other online activity in addition to Apple's information stores. Google and Apple are fairly transparent about how they store and use information that we supply as long as we actually look into terms and conditions. I am only okay with this to a certain extent. The map-related information can be extremely helpful when trying to find directions to recently visited places or when trying to look up different locations within your general area. The search history can also be useful because it allows you to retrace steps on the internet and access information. Also, the government can use these resources to protect internet security and keep track of different threats. The internet can be a wealth of information in this regard. However, it is also unsettling to know that companies and the government are keeping track of this information. Even these little things can give away a lot of information related to the personal lives of individuals against their will, and restricting the ability of these companies to access and use this information comes at the cost of major services. This can become a major burden because of the necessity of balancing privacy with convenience. With regard to the government, we have limited control over what is shared, and that is also extremely unsettling for an average citizen.