Track Your Child - Do you have the right?
The Global Positions System (GPS) satellites are free for
anyone to use. However, to use it, a GPS receiver is required
which is not free. In recent years these GPS receivers have
become very small and embedded in mobile phones. This has given
rise to many location based services. Though there are many
LBS applications that are very useful, there are a few
applications that are misused.
One of the location-based services as mentioned at Wireless Technologies reference
site is Child Tracking. In a study carried out by New
Media Technologies students (2005) in Australia, they have
detailed how this service can be misused. They state that,
"In 1998 the US implemented the Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act 1998 which limits the ways Web site operators
and others may collect and disseminate information pertaining to
customers under the age of 13. So far, Australia has not
followed suit and does not seem to have a law, which directly
protects children from technology such as the Internet. With the
introduction of global positioning systems for tracking
purposes, the issue of child protection needs to be addressed
before this technology gets into the wrong hands and used for
malicious purposes."
Some of the other consequences that may occur due to these
services are the problem of parent-child relationship and
also marital relationship. In their study they point out
"parents should negotiate with their teenagers an agreeable form
of knowing where they are whether it be GPS on their phone or
just a phone call to let them know where they are. This will
ensure that the relationship will not be damaged through a form
of mistrust."
And even between spouses each needs a bit of their own space and
privacy, which will be jeopardised by the use of this service
and may cause problems in marital relationships.
In a ZDNet news by Lisa Bowman (1999) speaks of some scary
scenarios where this technology can be misused such as,
"Insurance companies could refuse to insure you, or charge you
higher rates, unless you install a tracking system on your car.
They could then tell if you drive over 55 or spend time in shady
neighbourhoods where your car has a greater chance of being
stolen." Or "FBI and local police officials could have access to
your whereabouts by simply logging onto a database attached to a
cell phone, tollbooth or GPS tracker".
In yet another case a rental car company was sued by the
customer for tracking him down using GPS. "In a case that could
help set the bar for the amount of privacy drivers of rental
cars can expect, a Connecticut man is suing a local rental
company, Acme Rent-a-Car, after it used GPS (Global Positioning
System) technology to track him and then fined him $450 for
speeding three times." (Robert Lemos, 2001).
A Wireless week (2003) article lists how even location based
games can be misused. "In Sweden, thousands of wireless game
subscribers stalk each other using cell phones and location
technology. In Japan, you can use a GPS-enabled cell phone to
arrange a date, an application sometimes used by teenage
prostitutes. In many countries around the world, a GPS-based
game called "geocaching" is growing in popularity." Ever since
Princess Diana's death the perils of stalking has come to the
forefront in the media. The availability of such services will
only help the stalkers.
As if these are not enough there are other privacy issues
related to location based services. If you need further
reference visit LBS Privacy
Issues