Phone tracking

[Tsukiyumi]

You already have on in your phone. It's actively tracked by the 911 service, and inactively can be tracked by any other service that really wants to in the government, as long as they get the right permits for it.

I wasn't aware they put them in $20 phones from 7 years ago.

And the whole thing infringes on the right to privacy. It's not that they are doing it, it's that they can do it. You want to let them track you, and detect what you're around, fine. I don't. It's invasive and unconstitutional.

[Mikey]

It's not that they are doing it, it's that they can do it.

I think you've got that backwards. If they can, but don't, then they're exercising restraint and respect.

[Sonic Glitch]

I had a discussion like this with somebody who wanted to convince me that the government monitors all phone calls, all cameras, tracks all citizens, everything, 24/7. He said it was done because "information gives them control". Frankly, I don't think the people in charge of the world actually care to know any of that stuff about me. I mean, I'm so dull...

All they'd really need is a couple (hundred?) supercomputers and some software and search buzzwords.

[Nickswitz]

I wasn't aware they put them in $20 phones from 7 years ago.

7 years ago was 2004, so yes, they started putting them in about 8-10 years ago when cell phones became more popular and they were not attached to addresses, so they needed some way to be able to track them when calling 911.

[Tsukiyumi]

I think you've got that backwards. If they can, but don't, then they're exercising restraint and respect.

They shouldn't be allowed to use it at all without a person's express permission.

[stitch626]

I think you've got that backwards. If they can, but don't, then they're exercising restraint and respect.

They shouldn't be allowed to use it at all without a person's express permission.

Since only 911 can track it (cept of the government and all that, but they can track you from the sky with remote controlled helicopters if they thought it would do any good... or maybe just for kicks), calling 911 is pretty much that express permission.

[Nickswitz]

Actually, the EULA is the express permission, just because you don't actually read it, doesn't mean it doesn't apply. There's an entire section on GPS tracking in every phone manual.

[Tsukiyumi]

Actually, the EULA is the express permission, just because you don't actually read it, doesn't mean it doesn't apply. There's an entire section on GPS tracking in every phone manual.

Yeah, I'm aware that they slip that in the 300 page agreement; what I'm saying is I don't believe it should be able to be activated unless the owner dials 911.

[Nickswitz]

It's always on, but can only be accessed by the 911 services. Although, it can be accessed anytime the phone is on.

[IanKennedy]

I think you've got that backwards. If they can, but don't, then they're exercising restraint and respect.

They shouldn't be allowed to use it at all without a person's express permission.

Why not with a search warrant?

[Captain Seafort]

Split from here

[Tsukiyumi]

I think you've got that backwards. If they can, but don't, then they're exercising restraint and respect.

They shouldn't be allowed to use it at all without a person's express permission.

Why not with a search warrant?

Great idea, except that over here, they issue those like Halloween candy.

"Can I have a search warrant?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Aren't you going to review the case first?"

"Why bother?"

Besides, the Patriot Act makes warrants almost unneeded. They don't even need to prove probable cause in some cases now to search your property.

[BigJKU316]

You already have on in your phone. It's actively tracked by the 911 service, and inactively can be tracked by any other service that really wants to in the government, as long as they get the right permits for it.

I wasn't aware they put them in $20 phones from 7 years ago.

And the whole thing infringes on the right to privacy. It's not that they are doing it, it's that they can do it. You want to let them track you, and detect what you're around, fine. I don't. It's invasive and unconstitutional.

In part it is a pure function of how a cell phone works. It is a radio transmitter and receiver that connects to fixed towers and has to hand off its signal as it moves along. I am amazed that people thought they could not be tracked on these things if someone wanted to. This is not technically complex at all really.

[Tsukiyumi]

Triangulation is completely different. I am amazed that people are so gung-ho to defend the loss of our right to privacy.

[Mikey]

As someone whose wife regularly had to lobby for warrants and TRA's for domestic violence victims, I can tell you that in many jurisdictions search warrants are not so lightly handed down by a lot of judges.

As to defending my "loss of privacy," no such thing is the case. If nobody tracks my phone unless I ask for it (call 911) or actively subscribe to the service (navigation,) then the potential for doing so outside those situations is meaningless.