I have a smartphone, and I am generally very cautious about my use of the GPS locator, and when and how I post information to social media about my physical location or activities. While there are many beneficial uses for GPS, there are also potential drawbacks. This article from Tech Republic points to another culprit I hadn't even considered - information picked up through the microphone.
On the surface, a nice idea: I get consumer loyalty credit for entering a retail chain. But there is, as one of the quoted panelists discusses, a distressing lack of upfront information about how this gathered data is being used, and how control of the information capture is actually handled.
It's a bit like the risk that by signing up for a website that gives access to coupons, for example, I may inadvertently be exposing my online banking information accessed from the same computer and browser....except my phone is much more linked to my physical person, not just to my residence or workplace. In fact, I would even say that my smart phone is much more integrated into my daily life than even my laptop.
I find this new twist in consumerism subtly disturbing, though I suspect it is a trend that is only just beginning.
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