“I always feel like somebody’s watching me/ And I have no privacy!”
The lyrics from Rockwell’s 1984 hit ring true today – in Bryant Park. Whether or not parkgoers feel like someone is watching them, a data analysis company is monitoring peoples’ online habits by accessing the free apps on their phones.
The privately owned PlaceIQ, located across the street from the park, recently struck a deal with the Bryant Park Corporation to cull “location-based insights” that will help park officials seek sponsorship, plan events and generally better serve the public, according the company’s website. The information mined includes learning where people eat, workout, bank – and do just about anything involving a free app.
Most park users interviewed Friday were unaware of the online snooping. Some said they had no problem with the monitoring if it leads to better services, while others were uncomfortable with their lives becoming virtual fodder for marketers.
Reporter: Deanne Gaston. Video Journalist: Jennifer Mennella
