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Twitter announces GeoLocation API. Track tweets by location.

By Zee
August 20, 2009
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Picture 1Twitter has just announced the introduction of a GeoLocation API allowing for developers to narrow tweets down to specific locations.

Until now, the only locational aspect to a tweet was where the user said he/she was on their profile. Soon however, upon the launch of this new API, developers will be able to pinpoint the original location of a tweet. So whether you’re at a concert, in a particular city or want to track tweets about a particular event, the new API will make that possible.

The potential here is enormous. Whether its to break news, stalk people, read reviews or merely to keep tabs of sentiment in your local area – this update is not to be taken lightly.

Twitter will soon release geolocation to platform developers before adding the feature to Twitter.com. So expect to see them incorporated into Tweetdeck & co. soon.

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  • Lawrence
    Will you have the option of turning geolocation off?
  • It says on the blog:
    "Folks will need to activate this new feature by choice because it will be off by default and the exact location data won't be stored for an extended period of time."
  • Is the opt-in 'absolute', meaning that this will also not register *at all* if a user has opted out, or just that developers/applications can not access the information?
  • hi, Annedien,

    I'd guess not 'absolute'. eg,

    you tweet using the web interface. your IP address is recorded in various systems along the way. Your IP can be used for loose geolocation easily enough (I'd guess that's what they're going to use for most users).

    Google Analytics runs on twitter's web app, so your location is recorded there.

    Twitter runs on Amazon's infrastructure, so there's probably a trace there too.

    etc.


    dan
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