Cell phone tracking technology

There was a time when the only means of communication would have been the lick-sealed stamped letter or a message from a telegram. The letter used to take two to five days before reaching its destination. Times have changed in such a way that what used to take days is now achieved in a few seconds. Cell phones have come together with text messaging and online chats, all of which have exponentially raised the pace in which communication takes place. Along with increased speed, threat to privacy has increased too. With the increasing numbers of cell phones, it is possible to also track the locations and movements of the individuals owning them. Predicting the location of persons as well as their movement patterns can influence our lives in unexpected ways. This happens either positively or negatively.

            According to Swartz in his article “mobile phone tracking scrutinized”, wireless technology companies keeps track of the phone’s position as it travels, so long as the phone is turned on. Prosecutors have over time asked courts for the right to obtain cell-tracking data as suspect is moving. However, surveillance of persons or suspects has now been under legal scrutiny due to the debate on the privacy rights debate in this digital era. Allen also, in his article “Reach out and track someone”, argues that authorities can be able to find you at any time of the day or night so long as you own a cell phone, whether you do not make or receive calls. This happens by how the cell phones work, either with the global positioning satellites or through “pings” that allow towers to triangulate and pinpoint signals. Real-time tracking technology opens disturbing entrepreneurial opportunities, where software-readied cell phones can secretly monitor them on the web.

Allen uses real examples in an optimistic manner to convince the readers, Swartz uses facts of what has been happening, indicating the disadvantages of the cell phone tracking. I agree with Allen because the wireless companies collaborate with the government and other software to help the society in a way. I also argue with Swartz’s idea that cell phones take away individuals privacy completely, when the authorities are allowed to get the calls data. Both authors make a valid argument that is true, but what effects are cell phones having on our lives as American citizens?

Cell phone tracking has grown with the advancement in cell phone technology over the years. Tracking happens through either of the two ways; through GPS or triangulation. Global positioning system (GPS) works by using the 27 earth-orbiting satellites that rotate the earth. GPS works by locating four or more satellites at a time and determining the distance between the phone and the satellites. This information is then used to establish the location of the phone on the earth (Brian). Triangulation works by use of the cellular towers and the fact that cell phones are transmitters and receivers. The cellular towers has the ability to tell the direction of the phone. When a phone is talking, certain cellular towers are aware of this phone.

With the phone tracking methods, officials can get into the cell phone carriers such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile and locate the phone owner. Allen argues that tracking is of importance as it helps citizens in various ways. 911 emergency calls are some of where tracking plays its importance for help to be availed. According to the Federal Communication Commission’s enhanced 911 requirements, cell phone carriers work with 911 officials to take the signals and get within 50 feet of the past and current location of the cell phone. Allen also explains how tracking helps get suspects such as those involved in the death of St. Guillen (Ramage et.al, 349). He explains that cell phone records were used to indicate the locations of the involved persons when the murder took place.

Swartz argues that cell phone tracking takes away the privacy of individuals. His argument focuses on the way in which judges currently scrutinize cell phone tracking. He points out a case where three federal judges denied prosecutors a right to get the information of cell phone tracking from wireless provider companies without first showing the “probable cause” that a crime had been committed (Ramage et.al., 347).

The articles under analysis here are convincing according to the way each author argues out, but what effects are cell phones having on our lives as American citizens? I agree with Swartz that cell phone tracking may interfere with our privacy. However, one of our rights as citizens is the right of not being searched without reason. In the fourth amendment, people have a right to be secure in their houses, persons, effects and papers as well as the unreasonable seizures and searches; and no warrants should be issued unless upon probable cause, describing the place to be searched, persons or things to be seized (The Constitution of the United States of America). The amendment does not specifically say anything on cell phones but it states “effects”, which means our stuff, including the cell phones. Swartz is therefore correct in his article that tracking of cell phones should be scrutinized so that courts don’t issues warrants into individual cell phone’s information without scrutiny.

Cell phone tracking, however, are of importance to the citizens of America in many ways. The fact that we take them to every place that we go, even to the most secretive places, means that tracking the cell phone is equivalent to tracking the individual owning it. A suspect’s precise movements can be tracked, especially when tracking the cases of murder. Allen also stated that 911 use cell phone tracking. Location information is useful in emergencies such as when mountain climbers get lost in the woods, search and rescue teams can be able to access his/her phone location to get to him/her. In future, cell phone information for location could be put together give the potential traffic jams as well as the ways out.

With every new technology, there comes advantages and disadvantages. However, cell phone tracking, if executed well, can be solely be of importance. Cell phone technology has come with a lot of technology with it, changing the way we communicate and get information. Cell phone tracking technology should be of advantage to every citizen in the United States of America. Protection of the citizen’s privacy should be as Swartz states, the government as well as the courts should be responsible when issuing the warrant into a person’s cell phone information. Ensuring scrutiny will leave cell phone tracking to be purely advantageous.

Works cited

Brain, Marshall, and Tom Harris. ‘How GPS Receivers Work – Howstuffworks’. HowStuffWorks. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 May 2015.

Soper D. “Is Human Mobility Tracking A Good Idea?.” Communications Of The ACM 55.4 (2012): 35-37. Business Source Complete. Web. 26 May 2015.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing: 5 th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2009. ISBN-10: 0-205-74175-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-205-74175-5