I don't mean to gloss over any privacy implications this feature might have, but if we're talking about dissidents, doesn't the state already have a bunch of tools available to them for finding out were dissidents are gathering? Could something like cellular triangulation work almost as well?

On the other hand couldn't this feature allow for dissidents to find popular venues were they could gather to avoid suspicion?

It does significantly lower the bar for anyone that wants to identify cluster spots where people gather.

See https://github.com/m-wrzr/populartimes for an implementation that lets you scrape Google's data by lat/long/radius and create heat maps.

You know what else works?

Just checking cell phone tower usage.

The only thing this would give you over that is finer grain data, but it is already pretty fine to start with.

And the solution to both of those is the same: Turn your phone off (actually, leave it at home) when you are going to go meet with your friends to overthrow the government. You know, revolution 101.

>Just checking cell phone tower usage.

Right, available to state actors, but not available to questionable organizations that are not (yet) state actors.

Edit: No, wasn't thinking Google. Thinking more along the lines of political parties not yet in control of their respective governments, vigilante groups, etc.

So the concern is less the government acting against "dissidents" and more google? Because once they upgrade to state, they definitely have access.

Well, I guess you have a point there? Not really sure what it is, but that is a distinction... Assuming google don't have cell tower access as a function of Google Fi.

That is pretty cool. Did you test if it really works? Would be a great pool of data to play around with. And at this level really anonymous (as google doesn't share anything that could reveal users).

EDIT: It's not part of the Google API, would be surprised if they didn't block it.