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The world of communication is advancing so quickly that some of us simply refuse to try to keep up any more. Every week, it seems that a new cell phone or portable computer pushes the boundaries of technology. By ignoring these new products and sticking with what we are used to, are we risking being left behind when it comes to communication?

Judging from a recent article published on the technology news website CNET, there may be an even greater danger in cheerfully handing over cash for the latest gadget–especially when it comes to the brand new field of geolocation, the ability of devices to identify exactly where you are in the world at any given moment. CNET did some investigation of Microsoft’s Live.com, a “location database” that allows anyone to pinpoint (usually with amazing detail) the current location of any Wi-Fi access point as long as they know its unique MAC address.
In the past, that wouldn’t have been such a big deal since Wi-Fi access point were always pieces of equipment wired at a fixed location. If you had the MAC address of the wireless router at your ex-girlfriend’s house, for example, you probably also already knew where her house was. Today, however, many of the leading smartphones and other mobile devices have the capability to function as their own Wi-Fi access points—that’s why you can update Facebook at a totally remote location like an abandoned rest stop in North Dakota. What this boils down to is that if your ex-boyfriend knows the MAC address of your smartphone, he can theoretically look it up on Live.com’s interactive map and find out exactly where you are.

Creepy yet? Chances are good that whatever mobile device you use to surf the Internet is constantly being tracked geographically by Google, Skyhook Wireless, or Microsoft. This ability allows your phone to advertise local restaurants and movie showtimes to you. The difference is that Google and Skyhook do not currently allow just anyone to see their database and track the devices themselves. Microsoft’s Live.com, however, is freely accessible for anyone with a Windows Live ID.

As with many ethics questions raised by new technology, this debate is very young (as in, a few months) and is just getting started. Expect to see plenty of news stories and official action on the legality of companies tracking mobile devices and especially of making their locations accessible to the public. In fact, the Geolocational Privacy and Surveillance Act is currently making its bumpy way through Congress, its creators hoping to lay at least a few ground rules for this convenient and creepy new technology.

Article Written by Chris Rummel