When I’m inside my home, I do not get a precise GPS location, as there is no direct line of sight to the GPS satellites. You can use any iOS/iPadOS with a supported version to setup Sonos, there is no requirement for GPS:

https://support.sonos.com/en-gb/article/sonos-app-requirements

Hi jgati

thanks very much for your response

you didn’t answer the question 

is on if they force every customer to their exact gps location?

Sonos should give everyone a chance to read the requirements before purchasing.

From that point it is on the consumer to decide.

To come back later and complain is just sad.

Own up to your failure and either live with the requirement or resell/return the Sonos and move on with your life.

I did answer the question.   But let me answer it in a more direct way - I couldn't care less if they require every customer to enable GPS in order to setup the system, even if they are storing it or selling it.  In addition, their privacy statement stating that they aren’t storing it or selling it makes me care even less than that.  

Also, I have absolutely no fear of my loved ones being exposed to hackers because of GPS location data which is neither stored nor sold.

I’m glad you said that you would prefer they don’t do extract our exact gps. 
 

and your own example of a “remote” location is only way to stop their database holding the gps location. It is ijust not right 

​@Steve1098482 

Someone disagrees with you so your response is “Well, in that case, I don’t value your opinion”. 

I don’t see this thread ever ending. You are just going to keep posting “Do you agree that it’s not right for Sonos to ask for your exact GPS” until someone validates your opinion. And even then I don’t imagine you’ll be satisfied. 

What exactly is it that you want to happen? Sonos won’t change its GPS requirement just to placate you.

You have a clear choice. Accept it or sell your Sonos.

For someone so concerned I can't understand why they don't contact Sonos about the issue, instead of just the continual nattering  at other Sonos users.

Look back, count the Sonos posts in the last couple pages... Zero.

If they fear a phone call to Sonos maybe they could brave a reddit post to the next Sonos "Office Hours" topic over there - where there is an official Sonos presence, not just forum moderators.

thanks Stanley for your Sarcasm, nice one 

Sorry my nattering! As you suggest

the reason it is zero is because most people don’t realise the impact so they are ignorant to the dangers. If they knew, they would be a lot of push back

its hidden in the app and that makes it even worse from a customer point  of view 

so I urge you to take it seriously not just palm it off off a nattering person that actually has investigated the system and emailed at length to the Sonos support before coming on here.  
 

we all should take personally identifiable information seriously and not just let a company force us 

so yeah, I care a lot 

That is exactly want I think it reasonable

i want the gps requirement removed to ale the community safer, not to placate me. 

I want this company to take pii seriously and to help lead the way to protect all of it customers rather than exposing them.
to that point, the Sonos app only uses “approximate location” for android. So the developers actually have a choice to “do no harm”. This is the choice we all have. One to simply dismiss it as an annoying person in the community group that actually has lived through a difficult situation due to exposed information. 
 

so yeah, it’s a choice and I hope that all 3 of your can think about it rather than just going straight into defensive mode for Sonos. 
 

this is a serious issue and, with care and tolerance, a middle ground might be worked out 

Another post spoke about “simply not caring”.  It’s a defensive posture, one aimed at shutting down the conversation. 
 

so yes, I want Sonos developers to use approximate location, not exact location

i don’t think it is unreasonable at all and it would do so much good to help secure the customers at their homes

I don’t want but sell the system because I think it is great gear but I will if they force me to tick that location box

So I’ll shut up mow

and to finish with

do you think it is reasonable for the devs to force “exact” as opposed to “approx”?

the exposure ramifications are enormous for the customer base and tiny for the developers

Customers safety V developer overreach

anyway, cheers and good luck 

Hi ​@Steve1098482 et al

Thanks for your post. We understand that you might have concerns over Location Services being needed for setup of smart speakers that appear to need no such information. We have the following information to share:

1. Regarding iOS Precise Location: We understand that when you set permissions to "precise location" on an iPhone, the system has access to your exact location. However, it's important to clarify that this permission prompt is a function of the iOS operating system itself, as mandated by Apple for certain network-related functions, rather than a direct Sonos requirement. You, as the user, retain the ability to manage these settings within your iOS device and are able to disable this feature after the system is setup.
2. Our System's Use of Location Permission: Our system does not force you to enable "precise location" to set up or connect to a Sonos system in the way you perceive. The location permission is utilized by the Sonos app to determine your local network SSID for troubleshooting displays and to expedite the auto-join process if you have previously connected to multiple Sonos systems. It helps the app identify the correct local network for setup. Importantly, you can revoke this permission anytime after the initial setup is complete without impacting the ongoing functionality of your Sonos system.
3. No GPS in Sonos Speakers: Our speakers do not have built-in GPS or location telemetry systems. The connection between your speakers and the base station is established when they are within range of your local network, primarily using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth during setup. The precise location permission is not used for the speakers themselves to connect, but rather for your mobile device to identify and interact with your local network during the setup phase.
4. Data Storage: We do not store any information related to geographical locations. Our primary objective in enabling this setting during setup is solely to facilitate the initial connection of a new product and ensure its identification within a local network environment. We do not use this for building a database of precise customer locations for our internal benefit.

I hope this helps.

Hi corey

thanks for stepping in

i implore you read through the comments here

as mentioned, forcing  people using iOS to expose their exact location is abhorrent 

please ask you developers to change their code to use “approximate location” rather than “precise location”

I assume the coders will pretty much want to “do no harm” and that one, simple change will keep your customers a little safer in their homes because hackers will not have access to the gps location of their homes plus their wifi name plus their passwords

pretty scary when you think about it  

Hi stanely

Just to be clear, this level of detail was not apparent when I purchased the speaker system. It was only when I was starting to connect the Bluetooth speakers to the base station. And bang, expose my gps. 
 

it stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t expect it, I didn’t want it 

id bought it, unpacked and plugged it all in

so I couldn’t return it

so yeah, my fault for not checking that a speaker system forced me to give them my gps. Silly me !!

maybe next time I buy a fridge, or an air conditioner I’ll have to give my gps position plus my mother’s maiden name just for good measure. 
 

how much personal data do they wany

and how far are you willing to go to defend this abhorrent behaviour 

​@Steve1098482 

I’m surprised you even have a phone if you’re this obsessive about data and hackers.

If you buy a fridge or air conditioner you will have to give the supplier your location to enable them to deliver it. There is no need to give them your Mothers maiden name.

https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/legal/privacy

I expect this thread will be closed, as original question has been answered several times now.

Thanks Craigski for your reply

for your information, the gps in the phones usesgps as well as ping times from up to 6 cell towers to calculate your exact location, within a metre or so

So line of sight is only one aspect of the “gps” calculation 

scary hey?

Yes, I agree, it is scary that some people do not understand what they are talking about.

That is what I’m so worried about and why I’m speaking out. Some people on here don’t understand the implications of such an invasive data being captured and possibly released, especially exact gps data. Very scary for me 

I’m glad you messaged 

Rhonny, are you being paid by sonos

its a bit cheap if you be sarcastic like that

and I protect myself as much as I can using privacy settings through my phone. 
all apps that I use give me to option to use them with or without location, none force me 

so if that’s new to you, just think about the implication

Please just don’t dismiss it. Please understand the threat and please note that I’m trying to ask for guidance on here from people that might actually know, not just defend 

Hi All

We now feel that this thread has run its course, and it will now be closed to further discourse.

Please re-read my earlier statement if you are still unclear about anything - all answers are contained within.

Thanks.