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Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

an.dywa.ng

31–40 of 622 posts

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#31

Emergency services (with the proper software) have been able to get your precise location from your phone for a while now. This isn’t a new capability and shouldn’t be surprising.

None of this should be happening without the user's knowledge and consent. Swap out your phone carrier for Facebook and it should be plainly obvious why the current state of affairs is undesirable.

You know about it because your regulatory body requires the system exist.

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#32
post #13
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, please read the article. No one is saying carriers cant triangulate but carriers shouldn't be able to query the gps on my device and get precise GNSS data. > Apple made a good step in iOS 26.3 to limit at least one vector of mass surveillance, enabled by having full control of the modem silicon and firmware. They must now allow users to disable GNSS location responses to mobile carriers, and notify the user when…

I did read the article fine, thanks for asking. The crux of the argument seems to come from this > It’s worth noting that GNSS location is never meant to leave your device. GNSS coordinates are calculated entirely passively. OK so? The fact that GPS is calculated passively means nothing about the phone being asked what its position is after the fact. The article admits this capability is no secret > These capabilitie…

> slid under the radar of the public consciousness.

It is shady BS, and it’s why this phrase appeared in the article. Just because industry insiders are aware doesn’t mean it’s not shady.

The same applies to modern cars reporting their information back to manufacturers.

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#33

Removing this ability also prevents emergency services from determining device location in case its owner goes missing.

it should be my choice to decide if I want my privacy to be infringed upon in the name of safety. It should not be up to the carrier, or the manufacturer, or first responders or any level of government to make that decision for me.

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#34

Removing this ability also prevents emergency services from determining device location in case its owner goes missing.

Can't this can be done in a less invasive way by whitelisting the emergency numbers and putting an extra button somewhere that sends the location?

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#36

Emergency services (with the proper software) have been able to get your precise location from your phone for a while now. This isn’t a new capability and shouldn’t be surprising.

Surely that only happens when the phone user dials 911 ?

The cell network routinely does TDoA triangulation in order to help choose which tower should serve the client mobile device. Accuracy is about 20m, and may be better at 5G frequencies. 911 gets the location from the mobile network provider, but the network provider could provide it to anyone, and they do.

Tons of "free" and crapware apps are also recording location, and sending it to data brokers.

https://www.wired.com/story/jeffrey-epstein-island-visitors-...

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#37

Removing this ability also prevents emergency services from determining device location in case its owner goes missing.

No

> The limit precise location setting doesn't impact the precision of the location data that is shared with emergency responders during an emergency call.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/126101

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#38
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely that only happens when the phone user dials 911 ?

How would that work?

Carrier* Android and iOS both integrate with RapidSOS UNITE. RapidSOS then processes the rich emergency information from the user's device (enhanced location, videos and photos, etc), and is available to the 911 dispatcher in their dispatch software. 99.99% of Americans are covered by RapidSOS integrations in their municipalities.

https://rapidsos.com/public-safety/unite/

When the call comes in they can click a button and query RapidSOS for current 911 calls for that number and pull the information inwards.

https://www.baycominc.com/hubfs/2025%20Website%20Update/Prod...

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#39

What you need iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, or iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular iOS 26.3 or later A supported carrier: Germany: Telekom United Kingdom: EE, BT United States: Boost Mobile Thailand: AIS, True Turn limit precise location on or off Open Settings, then tap Cellular. Tap Cellular Data Options. If you have more than one phone number under SIMs, tap one of your lines. Scroll down to Limit Precise Location. Turn the…

Kinda funny that the most secure phone setup in the US is an iPhone Air on Boost Mobile. Who could have predicted that!

Re: Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

#40
This community should be talking about meshcore more imho.

It's a peer to peer network based on Lora. It really only allows text messaging but with up to 20km hops between peers coverage is surprisingly huge. Incredibly useful if you go hiking with friends (if you get split up you can still stay in touch).

See https://eastmesh.au/ and scroll down to the map for the Victoria and now more widely Australia network that's sprung up.

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