Fears over Google phone tracking

Published on Wednesday 4 February 2009 21:02

NEW software that allows people to track friends, partners and children has triggered privacy and safety concerns.

Google Latitude, launched yesterday by the internet search engine company for use with its Google maps software, allows users to activate tracking software on their mobile phone or wi-fi device.

That enables them to appear on home computer maps so their friends and loved ones can see where they are.

But the technology has raised concerns that people will be able to spy on their partners from home – and fears that it could potentially place children at risk from paedophiles.

Helen Hughes, a family lawyer, said she feared that the device would be used by people to track their partners.

"In abusive relationships there is an element of control. You will see people checking receipts to find out when their partner was at the shops. This could be abused by people seeking to control their spouses."

The software is extremely precise as it uses the Global Positioning System which can calculate a person's location within yards.

Dr Andreas Komninos, a computing expert with Glasgow Caledonian University, said the information could possibly be misused in the future.

"Google are always gathering data; the problem is now this information is very personal. A phone number is very specific to an individual," he said.

Google has stated it will not retain any information about users' movements.

But Dr Komninos said: "I would take Google's promise with a pinch of salt. I can foresee a situation in the future where agencies could force the company to store the data, possibly for police or anti-terrorist use."

Dr Komninos has also warned parents to be watchful of their child's use of the new software.

"In theory, it is a possible security risk," he said.

The software, which is free to use in the 27 countries where it has been launched, has also caused concern for child welfare organisations.

Nikki Kerr, projects manager at Kidscape, said: "It is a concern that children are posting precisely where they are. There is the danger that they don't realise what is out there."

A spokesman for Google last night responded to security concerns by pointing out that users need to turn on the tracking software and can choose who is able to view their location.

John Scott, a lawyer who specialises in human rights cases, said: "There are privacy implications that should be looked at and the question that should be asked is not can we do it but should we be doing it?"

The software will initially work on BlackBerrys and devices running on Symbian software or Microsoft Windows Mobile. It will also operate on some T-1 Mobile phones and eventually on Apple's iPhone and iTouch.

FACTS

GOOGLE began in 1996 when US students Larry Page and Sergey Brin devised a plan to make a search engine that ranked websites according to the number of other websites linked to that site. In 2004, Google launched Google Earth – a detailed map of the earth based on satellite imagery.