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Comment by WrtCdEvrydy | Hacker News Reader

> but then deleted it when it turned out it wouldn't work unless you gave it access to your physical location (I assume that was for their data marketing side business).

In order to use bluetooth or internet access through wireless means you must request location access because it's assumed that you can match a person's location with the access points and bluetooth devices around them (BL beacons). It sucks but Android is semi-right on it. Something that doesn't use wireless means of communication doesn't need location access.

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That seems a bit broken. The permission to send data over the network should be distinct from the permission to know the name of the SSID.

iOS handles this differently - there is a distinct permission for accessing local networks and devices, and another for location. Within location, you can choose precise or vague.

Sort of off-topic complaint, but I wish Apple didn't make the Precise Location permission status viewable by apps. There's no reason they need to know if I'm obfuscating my location from them, and many apps look for this setting and refuse to work with Precise Location disabled.

For example the McDonald's app doesn't allow you to use coupons unless you enable the precise location permission.

Some of it comes down to whether the app should rely on that positional data... like for catching an uber or something.

I do think that's exploiting the ecosystem and I have a feeling one well placed complaint with Apple would cause a stern message to McDonald's... does the app tell you it's because of your location accuracy?

It specifically says to turn on Precise Location

https://imgur.com/a/zrs0rQl

For reference, you can click any deal and get a 6 letter code to use in-store at the counter or on their touchscreen ordering booths. But you can't see the code unless you give them precise location.

So android provides "coarse" or "precise" which maps to "wireless" or "gps" but the prompt tells you the app can get your location for either one.

That's just Google muddying the waters and claiming they respect user privacy, but then the phone asks for precise location every single time.

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