Google Maps now allows iOS users to see, in real-time, how busy a restaurant or other public place is and when it is expected to empty of some of its patrons.
The feature, called Popular Times, is meant to provide users with data to make quick decisions on whether to visit the establishment. However, there are concerns that people with criminal intent could use this feature to target places that are full or empty.
Jason Jordaan, principal forensic scientist at DFIR Labs, says this is certainly a legitimate concern.
However, he says: "The real question that needs to be asked is: does this really change anything in terms of how criminals have operated anyway? Criminals planning to rob motorists at busy intersections or hijack cars don't need these services to watch what is going on and plan their attacks; the same goes for robbing restaurants.
"So in my opinion, the data merely provides an additional tool, which already does what they currently do without having access to the data. From a forensics point of view, I would prefer them using these data-based tools, because they at least leave footprints and a trail that I can follow to catch them."
How it works
The update is an extension of a similar feature already available on desktop Google Maps. However, that version used older data and gave users an estimate of the likely busy periods on an hour-by-hour basis.
The iOS update gives live updates and works by collecting information from people's phones currently in the area. All data is anonymised.
Jordaan explains: "So basically, when you use Google and you have a smartphone linked to your account, your smartphone is providing telemetry back to Google servers so that they are collecting data in near real-time. This is how Google's geo-location services are optimised, ensuring the user always gets the most relevant and accurate information.
"A classic example of this is if you use Google Maps as a GPS, and you notice red and orange overlays on certain stretches of road. This is Google collecting data from smartphones using Google services, indicating the speed of movement of those devices to show traffic congestion in near real-time."
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