Mobile phones equipped with GPS technology can double as tracking devices when paired with the right software, and with modern technology, you can pinpoint an individual’s location to a highly accurate degree. However, doing so may have serious legal implications according to the Australian Consumers’ Association, and while the desire to satiate geographical suspicion could be appealing to some, the consequences may not be worth the risk.
For those who can’t resist the urge to know the every movements of partners, friends or family, there are hefty fines that reach over $25,000 for inappropriate use. In extreme cases, a maximum penalty of two years jail could await people using mobile phones to track individuals illegally.
It may seem tempting, but people endeavouring to use GPS mobile phones for tracking purposes should be aware of the consequences if tracking capabilities are used without consent. This includes those seeking private investigator services or independent websites, which take pains to defer liability to end users.
On the flipside, people using mobile phones with GPS functions should remain acutely aware of the capabilities of the technology in their pockets. GPS uses satellites to pinpoint locations to within metres, and while handy for navigating traffic and city streets, your mobile phone could also be acting as beacon to your current location.
Often it is untrustworthy partners or spouses that are caught out with GPS software tracking the location of mobile phones, and although there are legal and illegal implications, there are few recorded cases of serious charges being laid in these circumstances. However, specialists warn that liability rests on users attempting to track mobile phones, and this kind of behaviour may cause a serious and unnecessary stir as it can fail to provide the full situation.
Apart for a range of private investigation websites, Telstra’s Whereis Everyone website offers GPS tracking for mobile phones. However, safeguards are in place to prevent improper use. For example, you must invite a person to join Whereis Everyone and they must accept the invitation (sent by SMS) before you can view their location online.
Whereis Everyone also allows you to block people from viewing your GPS location in case you need to preserve privacy. Of course, switching mobile phones off would render any GPS tracking services useless, and without the use of monitoring software, the process could be quite time consuming.
Not all implications for tracking friends, family or partners through mobile phones is negative, and many people use the service as a fun or interesting way to keep in contact. You could also find your mobile if you have lost it, or use it as a safeguard to monitor younger members of the family.
Only Telstra customers can utilise the Whereis Everyone service, and at the time of writing, SMS rates were 0.50 cents for standard mobile phones.
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