Could you be tracked by your iPhone 3G
June 24, 2008
During WWDC 2008 there was a great presentation given about a new social application, Loopt, that utilize GPS technology to show you friends/contacts around you.
Using location-based technologies, Loopt lets you know where your friends are by automatically updating maps on your mobile handset. Loopt even lets you send messages to nearby friends or receive automatic alerts when they’re nearby so that you never miss an opportunity to meet.
Loopt give you control as to when people can track you… but what if someone was using a similar application to track your every move? Would you be able to notice it? Not if it is integrated well enough in some friendly looking application.
I don’t know what Apple is looking at when they accept application for the future app store but they better make sure no one is hiding some sort of tracking code that can tell your very move.
Apple’s current iPhone SDK agreement does not appear to cover this. It only specify that: “Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.” Nothing about tracking users.
The iPhone is not what one would call your typical GPS Tracking hardware. I mean, it is just a phone. But given the right software it could be turned into something similar.
I certainly do not want to be tracked… and if I am then I want to control when it happen. I might want to be tracked in certain circumstances by some of my family members… like an outing at a park. But I want it off when I want it off. I have to be able to go out with the boys without being tracked if you know what I mean.
Sure it might be interesting to track others… like your kids, to know where they are and to make sure they really go to their friends house… but is it necessary? Is it because the technology allow it that you should use it without their consent? I don’t think so.
OK, if the kids are young enough it is not that bad. It is not really spying on them but rather guarding them. But when they turn 12 and they are more reasonable… should they be asked if they would mind being tracked? Guess what their response will be…
Any way, I don’t know where this GPS Tracking will lead us but for one I will make sure my phone won’t be leaving bread crumbs behind me when I don’t want to.
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There’s so many privacy concerns about these new LBS apps. Most of the social-networking apps that allow your friends to see where you are have pretty straight-forward privacy protection. For example, Buddy Beacon is an app that lets you see where your friends are on a map. You can hide your location from your friends or simply choose to not update your location. Also, only those who you accept to share your location with will see your updates. I don’t know what type of protection Loopt has.