beaconDB is an open, and privacy-friendly network location service, replacing Mozilla's defunct location service - eviltoast
beaconDB
beacondb.net

beaconDB is a drop-in replacement for MLS, which uses the same format request that’s used by Mozilla’s Ichnaea.

The source code is available on Codeberg: https://codeberg.org/beacondb/beacondb

You can contribute to the project by using an app like NeoStumbler (GitHub) or Tower Collector (GitHub) to submit location reports. NeoStumbler does Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GSM, while Tower Collector can only do GSM cell towers. Both are FOSS and available on F-Droid.

It is also recommended by the GrapheneOS project: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/112759509558471713

https://grapheneos.org/articles/positon-location-service

Just keep in mind that it’s still in relatively early development, which is why it really needs contributions.

  • Melody Fwygon@beehaw.org
    6·
    4 months ago

    No.

    It is hard to have both; but not impossible. You can still be privacy friendly without sacrificing necessary functionality.

    It will require that the “provider” of such a dataset constantly scrub, sanitize and remove data that would cause privacy hazards as quickly as reasonably possible however. That in and of itself is a technical challenge; though not impossible.