Geolocating tweets

Tchocky · 05-24-11, 03:29 PM

Aside from grabbing the IP associated with the account I don't believe there is a way.

Regarding retrieving said info, there's an interesting legal row in the UK over this very subject at the moment.

Platapus · 05-24-11, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Aside from grabbing the IP associated with the account I don't believe there is a way.

That is what we were concluding too. And the IP would only give you the location of the account, not where the actual tweet came from.

I just wanted to bounce it off some tweeters here. Few of us at work tweet.

the_tyrant · 05-24-11, 03:49 PM

maybe this:http://www.twitterlocal.net/
or this: http://millionclues.com/reviews/webs...tion-and-time/

otherwise you will have to try your hand at data mining, trying to figure out someone's location through what they reference in their tweets, and their time zones.

Platapus · 05-24-11, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the links.

Of course the next question we will be investigating is how easy would it be to fake your location with twitter.

Sometimes we research cool stuff at work. Not often, but sometimes.

Bakkels · 05-24-11, 05:19 PM

Sounds to me as if you're working at the Ministry of Truth for Big Brother

You might want to be careful with topics like this one with the increase in recent conspiracy posts here the last weeks

Platapus · 05-24-11, 05:21 PM

I am from the government and I care about your rights.
If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from your government.

Sorry, could not keep a straight face on that one.

Thomen · 05-25-11, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Thanks for the links.

Of course the next question we will be investigating is how easy would it be to fake your location with twitter.

Sometimes we research cool stuff at work. Not often, but sometimes.

Probably the same way kids get around web filters and firewalls in schools: Proxies and other stuff (such as TOR or UltraSurf) will disguise your location and tunnel right through a filter or firewall.

Penguin · 05-25-11, 05:40 AM

Yup, if a tweet is send via web, you have no real evidence to identify the originator's location.

If a tweet is send via SMS, Twitter should be able to name the provider through which it was send. I doubt that Twitter would give away the name for any other reasons than criminal prosecution. To be 100% sure, you must also have the SMS provider's data and triangulate the position of the phone.

Note that not all countries provide the possibility to twitter via SMS, Iran for example is not on the list. http://support.twitter.com/articles/...e-or-long-code

05-24-11, 03:29 PM	#1
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Aside from grabbing the IP associated with the account I don't believe there is a way. Regarding retrieving said info, there's an interesting legal row in the UK over this very subject at the moment. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

05-24-11, 03:51 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,375 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the links. Of course the next question we will be investigating is how easy would it be to fake your location with twitter. Sometimes we research cool stuff at work. Not often, but sometimes. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-24-11, 05:19 PM	#5
Bakkels Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Groningen, The Netherlands Posts: 709 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 6	Sounds to me as if you're working at the Ministry of Truth for Big Brother You might want to be careful with topics like this one with the increase in recent conspiracy posts here the last weeks __________________ My sh3 skins : http://www.gamefront.com/files/user/Bakkels Or go to the sh3 downloads section > skins

05-24-11, 05:21 PM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,375 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I am from the government and I care about your rights. If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from your government. Sorry, could not keep a straight face on that one. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-24-11, 03:49 PM	#3
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	maybe this:http://www.twitterlocal.net/ or this: http://millionclues.com/reviews/webs...tion-and-time/ otherwise you will have to try your hand at data mining, trying to figure out someone's location through what they reference in their tweets, and their time zones.

05-25-11, 05:40 AM	#8
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	Yup, if a tweet is send via web, you have no real evidence to identify the originator's location. If a tweet is send via SMS, Twitter should be able to name the provider through which it was send. I doubt that Twitter would give away the name for any other reasons than criminal prosecution. To be 100% sure, you must also have the SMS provider's data and triangulate the position of the phone. Note that not all countries provide the possibility to twitter via SMS, Iran for example is not on the list. http://support.twitter.com/articles/...e-or-long-code