Location Transport

Do you think cell phone triangulation is a valuable service or a invasion of privacy?

I do expect this issue to reach the Supreme Courts in the future, if it hasn't already. Most people don't realize that any cell phone company can ping your cell phone and track your location, sometimes down the very building or more commonly general vicinity. From what I understand they can ping your cell phone even if the phone is off. Many would argue this is a valuable service in case someone goes missing but given the tremendous popularity of cell phones, this is literally implanting a tracking device on all users. How would you feel at birth if they implanted if the government implanted a tracking device inside you, clearly this would be an invasion of privacy. I've even noticed they offer free cell phones for low income individuals which makes me wonder the true intent of free cell phones for low income users as they're clearly not a necessity. Do you believe when you agree to the terms in and conditions it's ok for them to track you at their own discretion? Or do you believe regardless of the terms, no company should have the ability to track your where abouts for any little reason left at the companies discretion? Problem is, police are now using cell phone providers ping services to place criminals at the scene of a crime. To me, this is way too much power for the police or a cell phone company to posses. Do you agree to disagree? I find something very unsettling that because I use a cell phone or even carry one, I can be tracked at any given time. Valuable service or a complete invasion of privacy? You decide.

Public Comments

1. They not only can use triangulation they can us gps. In fact they are required by law to be able to locate a phone when it is used to dial 911 and a by product of this ability is that they can find you when you don't call 911. It is only and invasion of privacy when it is done without a warrant or when done for some purpose not allowed by the TOS. A chip would be an invasion of privacy because I didn't consent to have it implanted.
2. You can leave a cell phone at home when you go commit a crime. You would have a hard time doing that with an implanted chip. Is it an invasion of privacy? No. You do not have to carry a cell phone with you every place you go. If you don't want to be tracked, don't take it with you.
3. It's not an invasion of privacy. INVASION is the key word. You volunatarily bought a phone and choose to carry it with you. It's not a secret that it can be tracked. Most phones now have GPS capabilities installed. You willing allow them to track you by carrying this device around with you. There is no invasion, you've included them into your privacy. The chip is completly different. if implanted at birth, I would be given no choice in the matter. They would have invaded my body and privacy and forced me to keep that on my person at all times.
4. remove the battery if you don't want to be tracked.