CYP Now - Resources: Know how - Mobile phone tracking

Services offering electronic tracking of children are being marketed at parents, but are these systems a welcome addition to children's safety or unhealthy covert surveillance? PJ White explains how the system works and its pros and cons. 1. When a mobile phone is switched on and connected, its rough position is known to the mobile phone company. The information has in the past been used by the police. But now it is generally available. Anyone can register a phone and pay one of the companies known as location service providers. They can then find out in seconds where the phone is.

2. One of the big fears has been potential misuse by unauthorised adults. Could someone with harmful intent towards a child put their mobile phone on the tracking system, without either the parent or the child knowing? The police and the Home Office now seem satisfied that the safeguards in the industry's new code of practice offer a high level of security. The identity of the person requesting the service is checked, a PIN code is sent through the post and the child must agree to the system being used.

3. John Carr, internet consultant for NCH, accepts that unauthorised tracking is unlikely. But he has other concerns: "Knowing where your child's SIM card is, is absolutely not the same as knowing that your child is safe." For the service to work, a phone has to be switched on and within network range. "So, why not just call them?" he asks. The industry says that some children are happy to be tracked but not to be embarrassed in front of their friends by intrusive calls or texts.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included