Today’s WaPo article Sprint Users Can Track Children Via GPS highlights Sprint/Nextel’s latest offering, real-time on-line tracking of up to four cell phones through GPS, so you can now know where your kids are hanging out.
Using the Global Positioning System, the service allows parents to track up to four cell phones over the Internet or on their own wireless device. Parents can periodically ask the service to find the child’s phone, displaying the location on a road map.
Parents can also set alerts, automatically warning the parent if the child isn’t at a certain place, such as school or soccer practice, at a specific time.
“Big Brother”??
Sprint officials insist their service isn’t a “Big Brother” tool.
“It’s not about tracking. It’s not about monitoring,” said Dan Gilmartin, Sprint’s marketing manager for location-based services. “It’s about giving parents and caregivers peace of mind that they’re able to find their children’s location.”
I think Mr. Gilmartin should have the first 2 paragraphs in the same article before coming out with this statement, because he obviously missed the line… the service allows parents to track…and can also set alerts, automatically warning the parent if the child isn’t at a certain place.
This seems exactly like “Big Brother” technology especially that the spin is that it provides peace of mind. Reminds of the line from 1984, “War is Peace”. Of course once this technology hits the consumer market we know it has already been in use by the military for some time.
Not many surprises with this story but it makes me wonder how so many people are only willing to see one-side of the box with new technology. Of course advances in technology are good but when it comes to tracking, monitoring and collecting massive amounts of information, one has to be willing to admit that these resources could be malicious as well as benevolent, just depends on your access to the view.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Really Rocket Science // Apr 13, 2006 at 3:07 pm
GPS Tracking for Parents
I have enough trouble keeping up with my three-year-old now. I’m already wondering how I’m going to keep up with him when he’s a teenager with enough subway fare to go where he wants. The answer is simple than I thought: GPS. If it can help find los…
2 Pat // Apr 17, 2006 at 8:50 pm
The cell phone companys have been able to “ping” your phone for a very long time. This is nothing new to law enforcement, however you do need a communications data warrant signed by a judge in order to “ping.” The cell phone companies often go above and beyond to protect the customer’s rights. I know through personal experience. In cases of kidnapping and other time sensative issues they will do it if pressured. Also hello to you and Sarah. Like the web site.
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