We can track your cell phone. We just can’t talk about it.

IHateTheMedia.com ^ | 03/17/09

[slomark]

All that cell phone location-tracking technology you see on “24” really exists.

The law says we can’t use it to track terror suspects or kidnappers domestically, but can use it in foreign countries. But we can’t talk about that. At least not on the record. Or attributed. (So this is off the record. And anonymous.)

Here’s how Fox News explains it: ...

[jiggyboy]

The headline says it all. And I do mean that. The article adds absolutely nothing.

[slomark]

Hey thanks!

We’re looking for great writers. Send something in. :)

[pabianice]

*psst* Not when you remove the battery...

[Publius6961]

Just yesterday I heard the first corrolary...

"Throw away" prepaid phones can also not only be tracked, but the calls sent and received retrieved.

Just haven't been able to verify that yet.

Ha ha?

[2harddrive]

Say it loud, say it PROUD:

O ne

B ig

A ss

M istake

A merica!

[Publius6961]

Sorry, we can’t credit little “o” for that one...

[max americana]

Reminds me of that scene in Spartan when Val Kilmer breaks the cellphone and removes the battery as well after the Feds killed his cadre partner.

[rednesss]

I liked that movie.

[max americana]

Me too. Meeting Delta Force co-founder Eric Haney at that set, turned lefty David Mamet into a libertarian overnight. I’m still shocked at seeing Al Bundy in a serious role though.

[Vigilantcitizen]

The law says we can’t use it to track terror suspects or kidnappers domestically, but can use it in foreign countries.

Err...Georgia used cell phone tracking to catch a murderer 5 years ago, but we can't track terrorists?!?

[Niteranger68]

Our office manager tracks her kids via their cell phones. She can even pull up the address they are closest to.

[PapaBear3625]

Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar was tracked down using cell tracking technology, as documented in the book "Killing Pablo".

How does the cell phone system know which cell tower to use to route incoming calls to your phone? How does it know you are in New York instead of Los Angeles? Your phone periodically sends out "Hi, I'm here" pings to any cell tower in range. The cell system thus knows where you are. If you have special equipment that mimics the "Hey, are you there?" signal that cell towers send, you can track the response from the cell phone.

[PROSOUTH]

I’m a county Deputy Sheriff. Last night I was looking for a suicide subject and her phone was being ‘pinged’ for location to enable me to somewhat track her. The tower she was near would only give me a quadrant of N-S-E-W and and area of size it encompassed she was in. This lady would use it then turn it off disabling the tracking of her phone, as she would check her voice mail I would get an updated position from her carrier.

The toolbox on my phone has an option for ‘location or 911’ this means on location it can be tracked at anytime and constantly. On 911 it can only be tracked while making a 911 call, or so we are told. Verizon however has a parenting phone plan that allows the parent to track a special phone to a GPS grid map on line that is supposed to be accurate within 6 feet.

I was surprised last night when I wasn’t getting a more definite location of this subject we were looking for. She returned to her home unharmed before we could locate her.