I’ve heard all sorts of stories about GPS technology and cell phones, some of it disconcerting, some downright alarming.
There’s a claim going around that anyone who owns a cell phone and keeps it turned on can be tracked, even if they don’t want to be, and that “Big Brother” on some level is ready, willing, and able to implement the technology to track you down as long as you have a cell phone and it is turned on.
So I did some searching around and found that story is true and not true. Yes, you can be tracked via a GPS-related technology that’s probably built into your cell phone, but, no, you aren’t likely to be tracked that way. It’s the “maybe, maybe not” nature of the information I found which concerns me.
I found an interesting website that discusses in some detail how all this works. You should take a look at it, but as disclaimer let me say I really know nothing about it. (The site and the information there “looks” legit — but give me a couple of simple pieces of software and access to a web domain and I can create a site for you that “looks legit” on just about anything.)
Anyway, the short answer to this is that cell phone tracking is only activated in response to a 9-1-1 call and/or other emergency. But this explanation on the website isn’t exactly comforting to those of us who truly value our privacy:
Permissions and Privacy
Simply put, tracking someone without their knowledge can get you in trouble. Typically, the subscriber must give permission and the cell phone must be enabled for tracking. Consult with your service providers for more detail.
Tracking Application “Persistence”
Again, the tracking application on a cell phone typically must be enabled by the user. Depending on your equipment, the application may persist – remaining enabled when the phone is turned on after having been turned off. This feature is particularly handy if you do not want to instruct the person using the phone how to turn tracking on and off.
I guess the bottom line is this: “Behave” yourself and obey all the laws of the land; if you aren’t — don’t take your cell phone along, or leave it turned off. LOL!