Although there are many advantages to cell phone GPS tracking, there are also privacy concerns. Since most people carry their mobile phone with them at all times, there is the ability to track the exact movements of all people. Is this a case of Big Brother, and who can access this information?
Cell phone GPS tracking can be useful in many walks of life and especially when an emergency arises. Imagine the scene of a traffic accident in which injuries have occurred. A 911 call made from a GPS-enabled mobile phone would significantly speed up the arrival of emergency services if the phone’s GPS signal could pinpoint an exact location. This feature alone could save many lives.
For these reasons, the FCC has directed that wireless network providers provide cell phone GPS tracking location information for 911 calls made by callers. This is known as E911. In essence, this is no different than a 911 call made from a landline, as the landline is registered to an address and relevant emergency services can be quickly dispatched to that address.
Where the difference occurs, however, is that property does not move, rather GPS phone tracking records an individual’s daily movements, and that has given rise to privacy concerns about who can access such private information.
However, the relevant law related to E911 is quite explicit. Allows carriers to provide tracking location information to third parties for e911 emergency calls only, however, under no other circumstances without the consent of the mobile phone owner.
The privacy of GPS phone tracking has also been upheld by a series of recent court hearings. Recent court hearings have dismissed requests by law enforcement agencies to obtain cell phone GPS tracking information from phone companies for the suspects. Courts have ruled that Congress did not authorize location tracking without actual evidence of wrongdoing and that probable cause is not sufficient grounds for records release.
These events will ensure that the benefits of GPS cell phone tracking are not compromised by privacy concerns and that its future and long-term usefulness are assured.