GPS technology hit the consumer market by storm. It helps drivers find the best routes, whether the GPS is equipped on their smart phone or vehicle. For consumers, the biggest benefit of GPS, is navigation features. The technology can pinpoint a user’s exact location, and then give him or her information about different services and facilities in the area. A lesser known, but much more controversial feature of the technology, is GPS tracking.

Most users will only need their GPS tracking feature in the unfortunate event that their vehicle or smart phone is stolen. However, this same helpful technology has a darker side. The same way that a user can track a stolen phone when it goes missing, a third party could potentially track the user while it’s still in his or her possession. This means that if you carry your mobile phone with you everywhere, as many people do, you can potentially be tracked everywhere you go.

Many modern parents have chosen to make use of this technology, in order to keep a virtual eye on their children when they’re away from home. Family members are allowed to track each other’s  property, without legal limitations. GPS tracking of family members can help keep children safe, and even find children who are lost or abducted. Alternatively, GPS tracking can help parents catch teens in lies about where they’re really spending the night. The same also applies for cheating spouses, but teens and adults are more likely to know how to turn off their tracking devices.

Employers also have the right to track their employees while on the job, but are somewhat more restrained by the law than family members. Before an employer can activate GPS tracking of vehicles or mobile phones, the employee must be notified that he or she is being tracked. An employee has a reasonable expectation of privacy when not in his or her employer’s presence, and tracking without notification would violate that expectation of privacy. The employer, on the other hand, has the right to detect whether or not the employee is using company time and resources appropriately.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor