The Creepy-ish Google Latitude Makes Good

Filed under: Satellite maps, current events

I wrote in an earlier blog post about the new Google Latitude, Google’s newest location-based service which allows you to locate anyone who is using Latitude, and conversely allows anyone to locate YOU if you’re using it.

In my prior article I stated that I felt it was stalkerish and had zero intention of using it.  And while I do still feel that way, I have to say that occasionally a situation happens that makes me question that viewpoint of mine and consider even *gasp* installing Latitude.

On April 14th, a woman’s purse was stolen and then RETURNED with the assistance of Google Latitude.  How did this work, you ask?  Well, the woman, Janina Valiente, a San Francisco resident, was sitting outside in daylight waiting for the bus.  A man approached her and just yanked the purse away from her, took off running, got into a car and left.  Common story.  Here’s the video.

This is the good part.  Janina had Google Latitude installed on her phone.   She called her sister from someone else’s phone, and her sister (who ALSO had Google Latitude) was able to immediately see where Janine’s phone was.  The police went to the location and recovered the purse and all its contents.  And everyone lived happily ever after.

I’m really starting to re-think this.  I mean, truthfully, do I really need to worry about who knows where I am?  No.  I mean, if someone wants to find me, it’s not very difficult.  I have several websites.  I’m on countless social networks.  So perhaps, as a single woman in NYC, Google Latitude is JUST what I need.  If I do end up installing it on my iPhone, I will definitely do a follow-up post to let you know how it goes and what I think of it.  Thanks to TechCrunch for the info.

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