Google Latitude

I can’t decide if this is super cool, way scary, or what. If you are not aware of Google Latitude it is, in typical Google form, easy to use, powerful, and with tremendous privacy implications.

I installed Google Maps on my Blackberry. I do not have a GPS phone. But Google Maps will use information from the cell towers to approximate my location. That’s cool because I can get a map that shows where I am. Useful.

Google Latitude takes this farther. You sign up and now your location is broadcast to whoever you allow via the web. You can see where all your friends are. Sure, sounds innocuous. But think it through.

“Hi hon, I’ll be home soon, I’m picking up some milk”. “Google Latitude shows you at the bar”. “Well, it’s only accurate to a few blocks, I’m really at the store, honest”.

I can see how this could be useful in some cases. But I can’t imagine anyone who would leave it on all the time…