user must allow "precise location data collection" to use Navigation

[Dandolion1964]

Until recently I used the navigation feature (GPS) to see what roads/routes were in the area I was exploring. Also, it was nice to see where chargers were (and get details about the chargers). But, now the navigation feature is not available unless you click "allow", which sends your precise location "to Rivian and its service providers". What if you'd rather not share your location? Sorry, there's no opt-out option. I'm surprised a progressive company like Rivian would require this invasion of privacy to use the navigation feature. Is anyone else concerned about sharing everywhere they go with who knows who? [note: I keep location sharing *off* on my phone-- at least I'm able to do that!]

I get the same message when I try to look at the security cameras remotely. Which makse no sense to me.

Sponsored

 

[SwampNut]

No matter what you do, your wife is still going to know you were at the strip club because of the smell of bubblegum body spray and the glitter.

 

[JeffC]

I’m not that important. If someone wants to breach my privacy and follow my location, have at it!

I'm in the same camp but I am curious why Rivian needs to know my phone's precise location when the more relevant information is the truck's location and the truck has its own gps tracker.

 

[SwampNut]

I'm in the same camp but I am curious why Rivian needs to know my phone's precise location when the more relevant information is the truck's location and the truck has its own gps tracker.

One obvious reason is to show your location relative to where it's parked. Another is to plot a drive in the app before you get into the car.

 

[JeffC]

I don't buy it. In both of this cases (especially the second) the exact location of the vehicle, not me, is the only relevant info.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Feels like stopping at a gas station mid-trip to ask for directions… but won’t tell the “help” where you are trying to go because “that’s none of your business”.

 

[Kaiju]

A GPS with a road map database didn't need your precise location shared over the internet in 2004. It also doesn't need to share it over the internet to know where anything else in its database like chargers are either. One used to be able to manually download updates even.

The GPS unit knows where it is because that's it's entire purpose. It triangulates via satellite signals. I don't know what hokum people are buying to believe that a company needs your location 24/7 to make that work. It is very much a solved problem.

I expect some things may not work like charger status or traffic if you are offline, but there's no good reason why it should refuse to work. Personally I think it's laziness so they can just farm all that out to google. It worked fine when it was with mapbox even if you had the location sharing turned off.

 

[Killer95Stang]

I like when people say... Rivian is supposed to be a "Progressive" company, when the ultimate goal is to make RJ and the investors money. My life isn't that important, and if someone needs to find me based on my GPS data, then I'm either in some kind of emergency or I've done something that I shouldn't have.

 

[CharonPDX]

You know, identifying your location is the entire point of GPS, right? You have to give them permission, but it should be pretty obvious that they need your location for the service to work. The whole "and Rivian partners" refers to Google, specifically Google Maps, which Rivian is using for navigation.

Except the vehicle could use that information locally solely within the vehicle - which doesn't need to share the data with "Rivian (the company) and its service partners." Navigation worked just fine without data-sharing with partners before. The only thing you missed out on was using voice assistant to search for things nearby, since it had to share your location to know where "nearby" is.

 

[Muzikman]

Definitely good discussion! I agree totally that GPS should not need your location to provide maps. But, to show where you ARE on the maps it needs location data. I'm pretty sure Rivian doesn't need our "permission" to track its vehicles. And it didn't until recently. It sounds more like a CYA legal thing to me, as some states are getting more concerned about privacy and data sharing. It is my understanding that phone companies use location data for targeted ads. And, of course, to sell customer data.

 

[Zoidz]

Until recently I used the navigation feature (GPS) to see what roads/routes were in the area I was exploring. Also, it was nice to see where chargers were (and get details about the chargers). But, now the navigation feature is not available unless you click "allow", which sends your precise location "to Rivian and its service providers". What if you'd rather not share your location? Sorry, there's no opt-out option. I'm surprised a progressive company like Rivian would require this invasion of privacy to use the navigation feature. Is anyone else concerned about sharing everywhere they go with who knows who? [note: I keep location sharing *off* on my phone-- at least I'm able to do that!]

There's a difference between "Navigation" and "Maps" but they get lumped together. The only thing GPS knows is your lat/long coordinates and altitude. Rivian provides a "Navigation" system, not a "Maps" system. They are fundamentally different.

From everything I have read, Rivian's navigation system loads maps and metadata on demand with some limited caching. They do not store the entire Americas or World road maps in the system for obvious reasons - memory consumption, timely updates, etc. If you do not share the vehicle's location, how is it going to load the maps for your location, as well as charger status, etc.? It's unrealistic to expect ALL of this data to be stored locally, let alone stale. What good is charger status information if it was stored locally a month ago? How is it going to re-route around traffic delays if it does not know your location?

It's a NAVIGATION system, not a GPS system.

Do you realize that even with "Location Sharing" turned off on your phone, you are still being location tracked via your phone carrier, wifi and bluetooth?

I'm not that important or paranoid to worry about Rivian knowing my location. Heck, if I was in an area near RJ, maybe he would even invite me over to chat if he knows my location.

 

[CharonPDX]

Definitely good discussion! I agree totally that GPS should not need your location to provide maps. But, to show where you ARE on the maps it needs location data. I'm pretty sure Rivian doesn't need our "permission" to track its vehicles. And it didn't until recently. It sounds more like a CYA legal thing to me, as some states are getting more concerned about privacy and data sharing. It is my understanding that phone companies use location data for targeted ads. And, of course, to sell customer data.

Yes, the *VEHICLE* needs to have location data. It doesn't need to share that data with Rivian (the company) and its partners.

Every other vehicle navigation system going back to the first Garmin dash-mount GPS units works just fine without sharing vehicle location with another party over the internet. Heck, for half of the time "vehicle navigation system" has been a thing, being connected to the internet wasn't a thing. As late as 2020, many BMWs navigation system only got updated with new roads/business listings when you took it in to the dealer than they manually updated the system via USB stick. Some Toyota/Lexus even still used a DVD in a reader under the driver's seat for that.

 

[SwampNut]

Every other vehicle navigation system going back to the first Garmin dash-mount GPS units works just fine without sharing vehicle location with another party over the internet.

It depends on your definition of "works just fine." They had significantly less capabilities, and I actually owned the first of the connected GPS units since they offer so much more. There are probably non-connected nav systems in basic cars now, but not in anything actually modern and better equipped.

As late as 2020, many BMWs navigation system only got updated with new roads/business listings when you took it in to the dealer than they manually updated the system via USB stick. Some Toyota/Lexus even still used a DVD in a reader under the driver's seat for that.

A great example of how greedy companies screw over consumers, and one of the reasons we'd never buy another BMW ever again. If you want that garbage, go buy it.




Dash Express


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Dash Express was an Internet-enabled personal navigation device manufactured by Dash Navigation[1] Dash Express transmitted information using a GPRS connection back to Dash Navigation in order to enhance traffic routing as well as use Wi-Fi for the purpose of updating GPS.[2] At the time of its availability, the Dash Express was only available for use in the US.[3]

Sponsored