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Discussion of Non-Consented Tracking of Cell Phones and Other Devices

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In the article, You (and Your Cellphone) on Candid Camera by The New York Times Editorial Board, they raise the issue of customers being tracked by cell phone without their knowledge while they are shopping. The Editorial Board believes, as I do, that stores should not track people on their cellular devices without prior consent. They claim that apparently traditional retailers are tracking their customers on their cellular devices and on security cameras with little or no information given regarding these activities. This is being done not for consumers’ safety or the prevention of a crime, as with regular security tracking, but just so that companies can target their consumers with personalized advertisements. I, for one already cannot stand too many advertisement texts and e-mails when I knowingly sign up for them, I am outraged that this is allowed to go on without most people’s knowledge. Tracking customers with regards to theft is nothing new, but how many people know that stores are invading their privacy by tracking their phone’s Wi-Fi signal just to place specialty advertisements on them? I did not know it until after I read this article, and I’m sure if I went out and asked various people in stores, very few others would be aware of it also. We may think it is an invasion of privacy that it is possible for stores to be allowed to do this with none or little notice given to its customers, but retailers claim that “they need to monitor customers so they can

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