Tracking Cell Phones: More big brother?

[cynatnite]

The entire article is worth reading and I wish I could snip much more. This section is at the bottom of the page.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051015/ap_on_hi_te/monitoring_motorists

snip:
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) suggests that someone should notify cell phone owners that their phones are being monitored for traffic data.

Privacy experts also worry that the traffic monitoring could later evolve into other uses — perhaps to catch speeders or fugitives.

That's because each cell phone has a unique serial number, in addition to its call number and a code that indicates its service provider. A cell phone company must always be able to track the location of its phones in order to know where to route a call.

"It's a mission creep issue that would be of most concern to consumers," said Lillie Coney, associate director of Washington, D.C.-based EPIC. "They may start out saying we want to know if there's a traffic problem and then take that information and start using it for different purposes."

[PSPS]

1. OnStar is very polished at monitoring its "users"

The OnStar phone in many GM cars is promoted as a safety measure, with regular calling for an additional fee. But regardless of whether you subscribe to the service or use it for an emergency, the device is still on and allows surreptitious remote audio monitoring inside your car as well as pinpoint your location at all times.

[MADem]

2. Almost everyone has a cell phone?? (per the article)

I have a throw away, but I never use it, and share it with five other people, who also never use it!! We keep it charged and have enough money on it so we could call all over hell if the regular phone went out, and if someone is going on a long trip, we have them take it, but I just do not have much of a need for a cell phone...

I know there are people who live with them glued to their ears, but I am not one of them.

[ErisFiveFingers]

3. Cell phone signals have been used to track people...

For much longer than many realize. Remember everybody having to turn off their cell phones for *'s thanksgiving PR stunt? Well, it goes back much further than that, people were being tracked, and tracked down, via cell phone 10 *years* ago. It's how they tracked down Kevin Mitnick.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. Read and understand the fine print ...

A cellphone is a product/service offered by a company. It is not the equivalent of a landline telephone and most of the privacy protections consumers enjoy on landlines do not extend to cellphones.

Everything about the cellphone in your pocket can be completely controlled by the the cellphone company. This control is usually limited to having the phone switch from one cell tower to another as you move around or changing the power at which the phone transmits based on the distance to the assigned tower. This is all done automatically, but the cellphone company remotely controls it.

Another feature that can be remotely controlled is when the telephone transmits your voice. Normally you, as the subscriber, control this by making or receiving a call. But the cellphone company can do it as well.

The OnStar system that auto makers provide, and that we've all heard about through their obnoxious advertisements, is an example of this. OnStar is based on cellphone technology. They can find out where you are, unlock your doors, etc. They can also turn on the audio of your cellphone and listen in ... this was done a few years ago to bust some mafia bosses. The crooks figured riding around in that big Caddy was a safe place to talk about bizness but the Feds were listening in the entire time. Ooops.

As always, read the fine print and understand what you're really buying.

[TheWraith]

8. This isn't accurate.

For one, the phone company doesn't "remote control" when you switch towers or what power the phone transmits. The phone itself handles all that. The phone company can remotely load some new information, like updating the proceedure of how the phone handles jumping from tower to tower, or which towers it prefers to connect to, but they don't directly control the phone's actions. Nor, for that matter, is it quite as easy as you make it out to be to use a phone as a bug without the owner's knowledge. OnStar, yes, because their equipment was designed that way, but average cellphones aren't.

In any event, if you want to eliminate the possibility of your cellphone being tracked, simply turn off the A-GPS option, or else buy a phone that doesn't support A-GPS, and you're covered.

[havocmom]

5. Yeah, and people pay for the dubious privilege of being track-able

:shrug: Why? I dunno. If one travels alone a lot, I see the value of being able to summon help in case of car trouble. For any other reason, I have serious doubts about this cell phone craze.

And it is worrisome that so many people seem to be addicted to having someone to talk to that isn't there ;) Seriously, too many will not get off the damn phone and participate in where they are. It is weird. It is like if they are not talking to SOMEONE constantly, they do not exist or something.

Talk about a herd :eyes: Most folks might as well slap on a radio collar like they put on animals to be tracked for data and then put one of those big, colorful plastic tags in their ears like the cattle all wear now.

Have never understood the point of cell phones. The cost is much too dear, and I don't mean $$.

[lutefisk]

9. My wife and I "track" each other in the grocery store

The store is so damn big we'd be walking in circles trying to find each other if we didn't have our cell phones. But seriously, it's technology- take it or leave it. We can always reach each other, a very important thing with young children and a crazy country.

Plus, we are "addicted" to being in touch with family members who might be 100 or 5000 miles away, when the urge or need arises. I, for one, can't anticipate the value of a conversation with an elderly parent that might have been missed without my cell phone.

Sometimes technology allows us to "be with" those "close" to us, rather than those who might simply be "where we are." It's kind of like people who read and post on internet message boards. I mean, why don't they just get off the damn computer and participate in where they are?

[havocmom]

10. I'm addicted to getting in touch with loved ones far away too.

And I do it by setting aside some time to call them often from home. I value them that much! AND the folks in line at the store don't need to hear my converstaions with my far flung loved ones.

My husband and I keep track by holding hands. And get really annoyed by people who block store aisles with their shopping carts while stopping to make call after call on their cell phones. Being trained observers, we both think it is akin to little kids doing stunts to garner attention from those around them. Difference being, little kids don't know better and lack other methods of getting their strokes.

Take it or leave it indeed. I leave it. The mysterious powers behind the technology do not need to be privy of my where abouts 24/7. For others, slip on those radio collars, by all means. Make sure anybody with some pull can track your movements.

edited for typo

[Historic NY]

6. Just like ez-pass for tolls, etc.......n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Mission creep. Slow erosion of rights.

[ThomWV]

11. You Can Not Buy A New Cell Phone Without A Built In GPS

It is in all of them now days - as I just found out last week. I could not have my cell number transfered into my wife's old phone (mine died and I was going to take her old one and buy a new camera-phone for her) because the old phone did not have the GPS.