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TECHNOLOGY Monday 27 March 2017

Google Maps already tracks you; now other people can, too

MICHAEL LIEDTKE and for how long — any- changing the game,” said
AP Technology Writer where from a few minutes Jen Fitzpatrick, Google’s
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — to indefinitely. vice president of maps.
Google Maps users will But location sharing in one Maps users will be able to
soon be able to broadcast of the world’s most popu- activate the location-shar-
their movements to friends lar apps could cause fric- ing feature by tapping a
and family — the latest test tion in marriages and other button near the search bar
of how much privacy peo- relationships if one partner and then picking a person
ple are willing to sacrifice in demands to know where from their contact list to
an era of rampant sharing. the other is at all times. text with the information.
The location-monitoring Similar tensions could arise If the recipient doesn’t
feature will begin rolling if parents insist their teen- have the Google Maps
out Wednesday in an up- agers turn on the location- app on their phone, it will
date to the Google Maps sharing option before they text them a link to open
mobile app, which is al- go out. the location on the map in
ready installed on most of It could also be turned into a browser.
the world’s smartphones. a way to stalk someone This Wednesday, March 22, 2017, photo shows the Google Maps The settings also allow us-
It will also be available on entangled in an abusive app on a smartphone, in New York. Google is enabling users ers to determine how long
personal computers. relationship, warned Ruth of its digital mapping service to allow their movements to be their movements can be
tracked by friends and family in the latest test of how much pri-
Google believes the new Glenn, executive direc- vacy people are willing to sacrifice in an era of rampant shar- tracked each time a lo-
tool will be a more conve- tor for the National Coali- ing. cation is shared. If no time
nient way for people to let tion Against Domestic Vio- Associated Press limit is selected, Google
someone know where they lence. “It has the potential will periodically send peo-
are without having to text to be another tool in an years. Although it isn’t as lot of complaints about ple email reminders that
or call them. The Mountain abuser’s toolkit,” she said. wide-ranging, Apple also adding the option to Maps, they’re still sharing their lo-
View, California, compa- Similar tracking is already offers a tracking option especially since everyone cation, a step that Glenn
ny has set up the controls available on other apps; called “Find My Friends” on can decide when to turn said may help anyone who
so individuals can decide Glympse, founded by for- its iPhone, iPad and Watch. it on and who can monitor didn’t know an abusive
with whom they want to mer Microsoft employees, That’s one of the reasons them. partner was still following
share their whereabouts has offered this function for Google isn’t expecting a “We don’t feel like we are them.q
Wells Fargo: All ATMs will take phone codes, not just cards

KEN SWEET head of virtual channel activity at its branches re-
AP Business Writer operations at Wells Fargo. mains depressed from a
NEW YORK (AP) — Wells One limitation of the one- year ago, with customers
Fargo plans to upgrade time code, though, is that opening 40 percent fewer
all 13,000 of its ATMs next it won’t work on the secure checking accounts per
week to allow customers doors that many branch- day last month compared
to access their funds using es have for non-business to a year earlier, while the
their cellphones instead of hours that require a cus- number of customer inter-
traditional bank cards. tomer to swipe an ATM or actions with branch bank-
The announcement was debit card to gain entry. ers per day was down 17
made by Wells Fargo CEO Wells Fargo said those se- percent.
Tim Sloan on Tuesday at an cure doors are found at Wells said it plans to roll
employee town hall in Or- a small percentage of out another upgrade to its
lando. branches, mostly in ma- ATMs later this year, which
While banks like JPMorgan jor metropolitan areas like will allow customers to ac-
Chase and Bank of Amer- New York City or Chicago. cess the ATMs by holding
ica have announced simi- In this Sept. 21, 2016, file photo, a customer uses a Wells Fargo The announcement comes their smartphones up to a
lar upgrades to their ATMs, bank ATM in New York. Associated Press as Wells Fargo is looking for reader on the machine,
those are still being rolled ways to woo back the cus- instead of entering the
out. In this Sept. 21, 2016, file photo, a customer uses a Wells Fargo tomers it alienated after eight-digit code. It would
Wells would be the first to bank ATM in New York. the San Francisco-based be similar to using Apple
upgrade all of its ATMs with Associated Press bank admitted that em- Pay or Samsung Pay, the
the feature across the Unit- app, and enter the code pens to have a card on ployees opened as many bank said.
ed States. into the ATM along with them or not, (the upgrade) as 2 million checking and Chase, Citigroup and Bank
To access their money, cus- their PIN number. The ma- provides another simple credit card accounts for of America all announced
tomers would get unique chines will still accept debit and secure way to with- their customers without last year similar upgrades
eight-digit codes from their cards as well. draw cash at any of our getting authorization. The to their ATMs, but the roll-
Wells Fargo smartphone “Whether a customer hap- ATMs,” said Adam Vancini, bank said Monday that out has been slow.q