Geolocation, briefly, is the act of locating an electronic device by the types of data that vary according to the tracking technology. Today, there are five such technologies in widespread use around the world, serving as the basis for the functionality of these devices to track and find the mobile you're looking for. In principle, this technology is useful, as it is able to provide the location of the phone by its number or geographical position accurately and almost immediately. However, as with all tools, there are drawbacks that make it dangerous.
The main danger of geolocation is that it can be used for illegal purposes. Tracking a person by cell phone location is an issue that can harm not only the individual, but their privacy too. This article deals with the subject of free cell phone geolocation without consent, but will not introduce third-party applications or services that employ this technology. Instead, we'll talk about the risks of tracking without consent and the legal, free alternatives, such as built-in apps, social networks, third-party services and IMEI.
Free cell phone geolocation without consent: how does it work?
Basically, geolocation of a phone or other device is done completely with the consent of others. For example, if we want to share our real-time location with someone else, we can do so with social networks like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram or with GPS apps like Waze. This is also true when we ask our conversation partner to share theirs.
These applications are not integrated into your smartphones, so you need to download them. If you have an iPhone, use the App Store. On the other hand, if you have an Android, use Google Play to download them.
What is geolocation technology?
Typically, there are five methods for locating someone with a personal device. Here's a quick explanation:
- GPS (Global Positioning System): uses satellites to calculate geographic position in terms of latitude, longitude and altitude. It offers precise positioning in most environments, but can encounter problems in rural areas or with weak signals.
- WPS (Wi-Fi Positioning System): uses Wi-Fi signals from nearby terminals to locate a receiver, mainly in urban areas. Accurate in cities, it is highly dependent on the density of Wi-Fi terminals or GSM antennas, which can make it unstable in certain environments.
- GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications): uses cell phone networks to locate a device based on its connection to operator antennas. Accuracy depends on antenna density, similar to WPS.
- RFID (Radio Frequency Identification):enables data to be stored and retrieved remotely, using markers known as "radio tags".
- Geocoding: assigns geographic coordinates to a postal address, enabling each address to be located on a digital map using a geographic information system (GIS).
What do they use third-party services and applications for?
Third-party services like Geoloc.be use a bit of everything to locate a phone. This is extremely important and useful for providing precise information on the geographic position of the mobile in question. The combination of these technologies assists in tracking the movements and location of smartphones too. This is reflected in the state of the art; with Geoloc.be, all you need to do is :
- Request location by entering the phone number in the Geoloc.be search engine.
- Receive a notification from the other person allowing you to view their smartphone's position.
- Display cell phone location on a map.
Integrated applications such as Google's Locate My Device on Android devices or Apple's Locate on their dedicated devices primarily use GPS. Both Google and Apple have satellites with which they can triangulate and retrieve the position of the device in question. Google has Google Maps for queries, while Apple uses Maps.
What are the risks of geolocating a free cell phone without consent?
Locating a device or a person by their device is strictly forbidden in most countries around the world and especially in Europe. With the advent of the General Data Protection Regulation (RGPD) and the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), these major forces are careful to protect users' privacy and consent. For legal geolocation, you need to pay attention to these points:
- Any company or individual using the geolocation data of identifiable individuals must comply with rules similar to those governing their customers' personal data. The processing of such data must be explicit, legitimate and transparent, and the user's informed consent must be obtained.
- The company or individual must justify the collection of geolocation information, obtain the consent of the person concerned and renew this consent as often as possible (every year for companies). Inactive data must be deleted after a certain period, and the rights of individuals must be respected, notably those of rectification, opposition, access, portability and deletion.
- Data must be kept for specific periods, depending on the context (customers, employees, candidates). It is collected to improve internal processes, understand consumer behavior, compile statistics and offer personalized services.
- It is important to determine who can access this information, and to respect people's rights regarding their data.
- France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés monitors compliance with these rules, and imposes administrative fines on companies that fail to comply.
How do applications that bypass the victim's prior consent work?
These third-party services and/or applications do not ask for permission in advance. Thus, the collection of data, location and movement of the cell phone is illegal and punishable by law.
Article 226-3 of the French Penal Code prohibits tracking without consent. This article specifies that forcing a person to locate his or her movements using a device or any other means with the aim of invading his or her privacy is punishable by one year's imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros.
Geoloc.be therefore has no freedom and no need to provide platforms that promise such solutions, as it operates by adhering to rules and laws.
What are the alternatives for free cell phone geolocation with consent?
In addition to Geoloc.be, which is a third-party service requiring a monthly subscription for simple and advanced functions, you can use :
- Google: create a Google account or use your existing account and ask the owner of the other device to let you connect. If not, ask him to share his location on Google Maps with Locate my device.
- Apple: the principle is the same as for Google, except that Localize only works with Apple devices or on a computer from iCloud.
- IMEI: enter your phone number or International Mobile Equipment Identity and contact your mobile operator. They can help you block your mobile and erase your data if you can't find it.
- Social networks: use the real-time sharing functionality of WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger or Waze to find the smartphone in question.
For an alternative approach to location that doesn't rely on GPS or GSM, use a reverse look-up directory like Geo-Net.mobiwith the phone number.
Free cell phone geolocation without consent: what you need to know
Geolocation offers invaluable speed in tracking electronic devices, but it also entails risks to privacy, particularly when used without consent. Various location technologies, such as GPS, WPS and GSM, offer advantages, but must be used in accordance with the law. In France, Article 226-3 of the Penal Code prohibits location without consent. Respect for the rules governing data collection, processing and storage, as well as for the rights of individuals, is crucial. Legal and consented alternatives, such as integrated applications or third-party services with prior consent, offer secure means of localization. It is essential to strike a balance between the judicious use of geolocation and the protection of privacy, while respecting laws and fundamental rights.
