Covert GPS Tracking Devices

 

As you know by now, from my recent surprise visitor post, I treasure my privacy. But the truth is, being easily located and then surprised with an unexpected visit is just one of the many scenarios we might expect these days.

With all of the technology and devices that have come to market in the last decade, along with easy access to highly personal information, nothing is sacred anymore it seems.

There are some incredible perks to all of it of course. The world gets smaller and smaller, opening up the lines of communication and creating awesome new opportunities for everyday people. But do you feel that it’s all happening at the risk of personal space and privacy – or are you happy to give that up without question?

I’m seriously on the fence with it all myself. While I’m a total gadget geek and love my toys and all of the options that they offer me… I really dislike how vulnerable they make me, and how they can also very easily become an intrusion on my life.

Camera phones, recording devices, tracking systems, open information databases, you name it! I have to say, the camera/video phones have been moving to the top of my list of personal dislikes in the last year. Everybody has one these days, and they can silently snap shots or video of anyone or anything they please… without anyone else noticing.

How would you feel if a snapshot of you sunbathing ended up on Flickr? Or worse, a video of you reprimanding one of your children at the grocery store? Sure it might have been an innocent scenario, but video can be spliced and hacked to make you look like the worst parent living.

Has everyone become the paparazzi? And every person the victim of possible ‘celebrity status’? Call me paranoid if you like – but I’m curious how you feel about it all. Of course, anyone might blow it off as a silly thought… until they were compromised themselves.

Let me share another crazy little scenario with you…

A couple of weeks ago I had a friend over, who decided to check out some things in my desk drawer. Granted my daughter had left the drawer open after borrowing a pen, and I had let my friend sit down at the computer to look something up. But going through my drawer?! C’mon! I didnt say anything until he started looking through a small picture book, and next decided to hit the Play button on my mini-recorder – at which point I spoke up about it. His response? “Well if you dont want anybody in your stuff, you should lock it up.”

I should lock it up?! In my own house?! I dont think so. I explained to him that I had an “assumed privacy” in my own home, and that he was expected to respect that as a guest in my house. My own children dont even open my bedroom door without knocking!

But is an “assumed privacy” realistic?

I can remember finding a cool website back in 1998 where I could put in any address or location and then zoom in from a satellite to see the area. This was way cool technology to me back then, and I would use it to check out locations I was traveling to at the time. I showed it to my penpal in Michigan, popping in her address, and were both a little stunned at the detail we could see of a residential neighborhood.

These days the technology and devices are much more sophisticated, and offer a lot more detail. And worse – they are easily available and affordable enough for every Tom, Dick & Harry that might want to use for them for any and every reason.

What’s your take on Covert GPS Tracking?

• If you were handed a GPS Tracking Device, what would you do with it? What would you use it for, and who would you track?
• Let’s flip that question and ask: What kind of person might be tracking you, and why?
• And when exactly does tracking become stalking?

I agree that it’s great technology with a lot of wonderful uses. We can find people who are lost or injured. Get directions and navigate easily. Keep an eye on newly licensed teenagers and elderly family members.

But what about abuse of the same technology? Do you feel its fair to track your spouse if you suspect them of cheating? Do you feel its fair that they track you if they suspect the same? Do you think employers should be tracking their employees? Do you like the idea of being watched like a hawk?

BrickhouseSecurity seems to be the leader in the GPS Tracking industry. From their website, here are some of the possible uses of their devices:

Is your teenager really going to the library, or is he or she going to a party where there will be underage drinking and drugs available? Was your spouse actually working late? A GPS Tracking and Logging System is a surefire way to document your loved one’s whereabouts. Unsure of where employees are taking your company car? Stop employee abuse of company cars or trucks – lower high gas costs.

Sure, those are some possible uses for the system. But you could easily reword it to say:

Is somebody else’s teenager out alone, in a good vulnerable location? Where is my spouse every minute of the day, so I know I wont get caught doing what I’m doing? What is the daily routine of that single mother, and when are the best times to catch her alone?

Your thoughts?

Tags: gps, tracking devices, covert, spying, tracking, stalking, stalker, camera phones, privacy

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