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#1
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I just saw in a store you could pay for a service to allow you to request the location of a mobile phone, and get a street map returned via internet or mobile phone showing, within 50 yards, where the phone is.
They sell it as a protection for parents to know where their kids are, but it blew my mind this was even available. So, ethical question this raised in my head... if you were wondering where your significant other goes to sometimes in the middle of the day or in the evening, would you use such a device if: a) You were 95% sure they'd never find out? b) If you did use it, how long would you leave it running once you set it up? Would a week settle your mind say, or would you leave it on longer than that? Also: Given the easy access to spy/surveillance stuff you have these days and its relatively low cost, do you think jealous/insecure people are the biggest market for these type of devices? |
#2
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db,
If you are worried about having an ethical quandry, then tell your SO to unplug her phone's battery when not in use so that you won't be tempted to try to track her. |
#3
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I know the question at hand is ethics, but I think you have to consider the legal aspects.
I was immediately reminded of this story http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.co...p;date=2006081 7 In the end, this man will be spending 8 months in jail for felony stalking. As far as the questions asked, no I would never use such a device. I wonder who else besides the jealous/insecure would want to access this technology? |
#4
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If I were a parent of a teenager that was obviously lying to me, I might use this.
I would use it if I lost my phone during a night of going out or if it was stolen. I would NEVER use to spy on my girlfriend/wife. |
#5
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There are legitimate reasons for such a service, but obviously there are huge privacy concerns.
I actually thought that the owner of the phone had to accept/allow the service through a text message or something initially. Obviouslly, you could get round this problem if you have unfettered access to the phone for a short while. However, as long as the service also sent a text message to the phone everytime a lookup was done (e.g. "this number xxxxx has looked you up"), then that is a decent compromise. If such protection is not in place, then the privacy laws should be amended. |
#6
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[ QUOTE ]
There are legitimate reasons for such a service, but obviously there are huge privacy concerns. I actually thought that the owner of the phone had to accept/allow the service through a text message or something initially. Obviouslly, you could get round this problem if you have unfettered access to the phone for a short while. However, as long as the service also sent a text message to the phone everytime a lookup was done (e.g. "this number xxxxx has looked you up"), then that is a decent compromise. If such protection is not in place, then the privacy laws should be amended. [/ QUOTE ] What legitimate reasons, outside of law enforcement? Just curious. |
#7
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I wouldn't have a problem with parents having a locator on their 10 year olds mobile phone, for example, but I do think they should be open about it.
It could potentially be used by a business to keep track of employees (through their work mobile phones). |
#8
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"So, ethical question this raised in my head... if you were wondering where your significant other goes to sometimes in the middle of the day or in the evening, would you use such a device if:"
"You were 95% sure they'd never find out?" No. "Given the easy access to spy/surveillance stuff you have these days and its relatively low cost, do you think jealous/insecure people are the biggest market for these type of devices?" Yes. |
#9
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[ QUOTE ]
I just saw in a store you could pay for a service to allow you to request the location of a mobile phone, and get a street map returned via internet or mobile phone showing, within 50 yards, where the phone is. They sell it as a protection for parents to know where their kids are, but it blew my mind this was even available. [/ QUOTE ] The plan I saw was called the Sprint Family Plan, or something like that. To use it, you have to download the software into each phone and enable each phone with the password. You can have up to 4 phones on the plan. Every time you "locate" a phone, the "located" phone receives a text message saying that it was just tracked. |
#10
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Ethically: It's wrong to track your SO without his/her knowledge, it's a pretty clear invasion of privacy. If one feels the need to do this, that relationship probably has some big issues. The whole idea of people being able to track the whereabouts of everyone else just gives me a bad vibe too.
That kind of technology is pretty cool though. I downloaded a gps and mapping program into my phone recently, and it's awesome. No more printing out mapquest directions. |
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