London's Bombproof Garbage Cans Lose Their Trashy Tracking

Defusing an app in London’s bombproof trash cans

Each bin costs £30,000 ($46,500) to install. Their LCD screens show maps and other public info. The bins carry software that London-based Renew says detects smartphones by proximity, speed, manufacturer, and length of use. Renew says it tracked smartphone makes, but hadn’t begun studying shopping habitsPhotograph by Sean Dempsey/Press Association Images

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By Rachel Savage

August 22, 2013 at 11:36 PM UTC

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This article is part of the August 26, 2013 issue of businessweek.

London’s bombproof garbage bins are so modern they can collect data from passing mobile devices. It seemed a good idea at the time, but on Aug. 12 local authorities ordered supplier Renew to disable the feature.