Cell Phones, Missing Persons, and Privacy

An anonymous reader sends in a Seattle PI story about the use of cell phone records in missing-person cases. Typically, phone companies turn over location information to police without a warrant if one of their customers is reported missing; the police need only to state that the person may be in danger. In any criminal case, a warrant from a judge would be required before the telcos divulged any information. While in some poster-child cases lives have been saved as a result of this practice, it seems like a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen. It is not a crime to go missing.

Comments

Re:It is not a crime to go missing.

[x2A]

Lets say I'm just a crazy person who's attracted to bright lights, and the feeling of a sharp knife going though soft flesh... better turn off all your lights too then!

Re:Given the fact that they don't get a warrant...

[PPH]

The police don't use the information. They give, or sell it to someone else.

Think industrial espionage. Your competitor wants to keep tabs on you, see who you are meeting with and when. They know someone on the police force who needs a couple of bucks and can use their credentials to get tracking info. and call data.

Dear Police:

[Jane Q. Public]

I am disappearing on purpose. Have a nice day. Sincerely, Jane.

Re:But "It's for the children!"

[jamesh]

Yes, with skull mounted trackers we'd finally have the correct answer to the question "It's 10pm. Do you know where your children are?". You'd just whip out the offspring locater, press a few buttons, and you'd know instantly where they are.

Or at least where their skull is.

Re:Isn't it a crime?

[RoboRay]

I'm worried about you, but I don't know where you are. Report your current physical location immediately or prepare to be arrested.

Re:It is not a crime to go missing.

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe he's thinking of Robocop-style consent:

'You have 20 seconds to comply!'

Re:It is not a crime to go missing.

[zennyboy]

Reading all this just makes me think of "The Wire". Reading that made me think of "The Wife"

Re:Bit of a false dichotomy

[maxume]

There's no place for reason and nuance on this internet.

Re:It is not a crime to go missing.

[exploder]

Or a Bat-signal.