GPS Security And Privacy: Should Safety Trump Privacy?
The Global Positioning Satellite System, or GPS, has brought many benefits to society. Examples include easier navigation and position-finding in unfamiliar terrain. However, it can result in various invasions of privacy. GPS privacy and security issues have become newsworthy recently. Many people believe that, despite the problems that can arise, the GPS system is still a new positive for society.
GPS vehicle tracking devices can be used to monitor many types of data such as how many miles a car has been driven, how fast the automobile was going, and where the vehicle is located. This all varies depending on the device and system that is utilized.
In some cases people believe that this is an invasion of their personal privacy. For example, when renting a car, most of us ignore the fine print at the bottom of our contracts saying that we will pay extra for wear and tear on the vehicle if we go over 79 miles per hour. The car rental company will know when and how many times we have done this, and charge our credit card the additional 'wear and tear' fee based on information obtained by their GPS vehicle tracking devices.
Although some people worry about the invasion of privacy issues with GPS devices, most parents find that knowing that their child can be found if necessary trumps the privacy issues. Parents have been known to use cell phones to track a child's actions and movements. If the parents find that the child has disobeyed, they might lose privileges, such as driving or going out.
GPS cell phones allow people to track their loved ones with a much smaller investment. There are now options available for this from cell phone companies. However, the GPS data is not usually directly accessible to the user and an accurate determination of location needs assistance from the wireless network, thus the GPS data is only transmitted if a 911 call is made.
Another area in which GPS security and privacy issues have become important is with cellular phones. Many people do not know that their cell phones can be used to keep tabs on them. They make it easier for police officers to go about their business, because cops can track both victims and suspected criminals much more easily. Stolen cars are also easier to locate now. Each year, the tracking devices become better and gain new features. While these tracking devices can help keep you safe and protect your family and property, they can also be abused to invade your privacy.
As many of you already know, the Global Positioning Satellite System (GPS) has a number of major benefits. But some people consider it to be an invasion of privacy. Many adults believe that the pros of the gps security and privacy outweigh the cons. Devices such as GPS vehicle tracking devices can provide monitoring data on a vehicle such as total miles driven, speeds that it was driven, traveled routes, as well as its current location. The benefit of GPS is that people who possess GPS cell phones no longer need to buy expensive equipment to monitor a loved one.
Published January 22nd, 2008
Filed in Communication