According to a report in Red Herring, Verizon Wireless plans to launch a child tracking service this May. The service will debut on the LG Migo, a kid-friendly phone that the carrier launched late last year. Privacy concerns have stalled the launch of a GPS based tracking service so far, but Verizon Wireless has apparently decided that it will be a popular feature for safety-conscience parents. This jives with what we have heard from LG representatives--the functionality has always been in the Migo, but it's up to Verizon Wireless to make use of it.
Joe Astroth, Autodesk’s vice president of Location Based Services, talks about the service:
The Chaperone service will cost between $10 and $15 per month, and parents will be able to locate the Migo phone within several yards using the parent’s cell phone or an Internet site, Mr. Astroth said. The parent will also be able to receive a text message if the child leaves a designated area in a service called “geo-fencing.”
Child tracking won't be the only location based service that Verizon Wireless will launch, expect a turn-by-turn navigation service called VZ Navigator to launch later this year. It's only one of a handful of services expected to debut.
Tami, like most of us, is a bit foolish to not want to know about where her kids REALLY are. Teens are, by definition, mis-wired. We all honestly know this. Peer groups are vying for power against parents and authority in general and sometimes win. Until kids are out on their own we need to know where and who they are with. Just look at Natalie Holloway. Where were her friends? Real friends look after each other. In most cases, family are the only ones who really care about you. People who seem like friends could eventually be the cause of harm to your children. Do I want to know where my children are all the time? Until they are out on their own, absolutely! If I was injured or taken against my will, I would want my family to be able to find me before it was too late. Thanks for the forum.
HOW THE HELL can you track a Verizon GPS phone?!?! I NEED TO KNOW!!!
Statistics show that a child is abducted every 20 min in this country! AND if the child is found dead, they are usually killed within 3 hours of that abduction. As a mother of a new born, I want every advantage of knowing where my child is at any given moment during the day especially if my child is abducted. Right now, my child has to depend on me and other caregivers because she can not defend herself. Having GPS devices availabe will at least give my daughter a fighting chance and I can say that I did everything to protect her until she can protect herself. I'd rather have my daughter dislike me for a while because I made her wear a tracking device than have her abducted and end up having unspeakable things happen to her. It's one thing to want to be your child's friend. It's quite another to be a parent and to make responsible decisions that will protect that child.
I have to agree with the child abduction issue in this case. However, how often would you think an abductor will allow the child to keep the phone around? They are very likely to toss it. I think that a GPS tracking device is going to be a life saver when it comes to children being abducted and I have thought of this possibility for many years because I am deathly afraid of something like that happening to my little one. But I think they need to think of a better, smaller, less conspicious device that can be disguised in an item of jewelry or a watch or something in a shoe possibly. A phone just has too many what-ifs associated with it for it to be a reliable safety net.
a few months ago skymall had GPS braclets available that are cut resistant so they can't be easily removed
can you say lojack. this is only the beginning. george bush and big brother are watching you.
sounds great but would it be only cell phones
or would it be something like a watch beltbucke
Hey Charlie you liberal SOB you obviously dont have any children. I applaude Verizon for there efforts in attempting to stop these animals although I think they need a better idea than a cell phone. Im sure your too busy blaming Bush for everything wrong in the world you would probably blame him if your child were to be abducted. There are two things the world could do without child abductors/molesters and democrats
People lets think about this for a second...
It sounds great to have and in most cases it will not be needed. So you will be spending for something that may not happen. Let's just assume though that money is no object when it comes to your child.
So in the worst case something happens. Some idiot takes your child. Per the above statistics from prior replies above several things seem quite clear to me:
1. You wont have time to realize your child is gone before it is too late.
2. If you happen to be monitoring your child and not doing 1 of 1000 things you most likely are doing during the day then great you can contact the police, school, etc. to help if at all possible. But then again now that this feature is known to users and when available will be know to everyone the chances the phone will be on your child is just about nill. So, you'll find the phone but not your child?
3. On a positive note maybe you will be lucky and get the A**Hole who took your child. And if you somehow get to them before the cops you have my blessing to do anything in your power to get your child and make those that did this pay with there life. Unfortunately I do not trust nor believe the cops can do anything so you will be on your own. When it comes to family you need to do what you can and do not hesitate. Those who hesitate will live with the "why's" and "what if's" for the rest of there life. Personally I will try my hardest to not have this happen.
In conclusion, this gadget might make lots of money for Verizon but I think I will opt for trust in those I leave my child with and be around them as often as I can.
May all Americans opt not to harm Americans but only those non Americans that choose to harm us. Rememebr 911.
Peace
Well if you cant make the world a better place, place tracking devices on children. Truth is the world is a good place. Only the media makes it look as if danger is at every corner.
No I dont have kids and if I ever did, all I need to know is if they hang around the right crowd. Plus I would tell them that if they need help, help is at every door in every street. If not, then DONT LIVE THERE!
I am still a kid at heart and if my parents knew where I was with my phone, Id rather leave it at home.
Besides most of my friends loose their phones once a few months. The only reason why I would get such a service is to find out who stole my phone or where in the world I left it.
I am also very sure that a small majority of parents would get this service to spy on their kids at least once. Which to me sounds like what predators would do. Who in the right mind would give anyone the right to spy on anyone? Especially on children?
I do not believe that many parents who would get this service for their kids would even tell them that they have a GPS tracking device on their phone and tell them how it works, thus back to the previous statement.
-- Hugh
Hi all, I work for a cell phone company...not Verizon. Parents calling in to see if we offer tracking of a cell phone is "NILL". This is an insurance policy for parents and any cell phone user and that's about it. It's the one extra step that we can take to feel a little bit more secure in a not so secure society. It's one of those decisions that one has to make. "If something were to ever happen", and we had elected not to have the tracking service...we would feel bad that we didn't get it when we had the chance...if that makes any sense. Of course on the other hand...we may never use the service and would eventually feel like we were wasting our money on a frivolous service. It's ultimately a personal decision, but one that I think we should have since it's a service that is obviously available. We as consumers should have the option to use it or not. Our company doesn't have the tracking available but I wish that we did. At least we could offer this service to our customers that did want to take advantage of it. These days the hours spent away from our kids pretty much justifies supplying our kids with cell phones. I foresee just a select few extra cautious parents taking advantage of this. Think of the other benefits...lost or stolen phones. The number of these outweigh tracking children by miles! The cost to replace a lost or stolen cell phone can be high, even with insurance coverage due to deductibles. It's out there and it's available...don't hate the messenger, embrace our 20th century technology!
Touche Wayne. Charlie you are a moron and most likely a criminal who doesn't want anyone knowing what you are doing. I applaud Verizon for trying as well. I think the belt or jewelry idea is better though. I do have to say though that nothing replaces a vigilant parent, especially w/toddlers and young children. Don't turn your back for a second, even if you think you are in a safe environment. For older children knowing where they are and who they are with is paramount.
Wow---so many opinios on this and they all sound logical. Even Charlie's comment about Bush and big brother watching you. Sorry everyone but he's right there too. But I agree it should only be used to track a missing child. It's up to us as parents to teach our teens how to be trusted by us (yeah.....I know they are teens and will faulter because they are teens----so don't tell me to wake up there--I'm the mom of 4 -- ages 24, 18, 15 and 5--so believe me I know what teens are about. I believe it's a parents job to teach your kids how to be trusted plus our job to realize they are teens and it's our responsiblity to make it our business to know the who what why and where before the child leaves the house even if you "trust the teen". Remember they are teens as we once were.
I do believe this GPS device is a great idea however; it needs to be in a different form other than a cell phone or in a shoe. The make GPS for pets and have them surgically installed. This would be a better option because the piece of poop that take a kid would 1st make sure the GPS is found and tossed right away. If they can do this for a dog or cat why not a kid.
But also keep in mind having GPS is still another way to prove that BIG BROTHER is in control too. I'm very mixed about whether or not I would want this great life saving item. Keep a closer eye on your children will help alittle bit more in the mean time.
First, Charlie is an idiot who has something to hide.
Second, Wayne is an idiot who thinks it is his right to find out what Charlie is hiding.
Third, kudos to Verizon for trying to do something. What they are about to do is a hell of a lot more than what anyone else is doing. Granted, the phone GPS is not a great idea, but it is a start. The statistics on child abduction are vague at best and usually entertain some degree of conjecture by advocacy groups, but they are probably not far enough off to discount them. Even so, do we all realize that a large majority of children that are abducted are taken by someone they know?
lastly, there is the debate of privacy and the invsion of personal space. Is this "Big Brother" like Charlie seems to believe? Yes, and it is rightly so. The only whiners are the ones with something to hide. But the technology exists to make it virtually unnoticeable. We microchip our pets as an ID security device. A slightly larger device can be placed under the skin of ALL people to aid in tracking everyone. Do you feel this would be an invasion of your privacy or an assault on your personal rights? Where do you go that you feel that nobody should find out about it? Are you ashamed of the fact that your wife may find out that you are secretly frequenting a local "gentleman's club" or your secretary's apartment?
I, for one, support the idea of "tagging" with GPS locators. We could easily track the whereabouts of our children. We could also track those offenders that are supposedly "registered" with the local authorities. If it were easier to catch criminals, would crime decline? I would gladly be the first test subject, if need be. I have nothing to hide . . . do you?
I have a 9 year old son who has had a Migo phone since February (without gps obviously). Him having this phone has been great because when he's running around the neighborhood with six other kids, he calls us every time he leaves one kids house for another, and calls again when he gets there. It takes a huge worry off of us and lets him have a small taste of independence. He keeps his strapped on his belt loop and the phone goes in his pocket. It would take him about 5 seconds to call 911 if he needed to (and he does know how). I also keep my phone within arm's reach any time he is away from the house. If he ever feels threatened or has an issue, he can hit one button to reach me and with the added gps, I would be in my car in about two seconds and would at least have a fighting chance to make damn sure that no one gets far with him. As a parent, I say every little bit helps. If this product helps even one parent reclaim their kid before something horrible happens to them, then God bless Verizon.
I think we can come up with all sorts of scenerios that render this device useless. But it really isn't any more useless than a brake on a car. I feel this device can be really useful as a preventive alarm - before something happens - such as when a child wanders or goes outside a prohibited area. This won't take the place of parenting but allow a litte more freedom of movement while still being restrictive and providing constant oversight. Obviously you have to use common sense in terms of how much freedom and your distance as well.
Bill, think about what you are saying for a minute. Having everyone tagged to follow their every move is an invasion of privacy, and although the intentions today may be honorable, who is to say that this technology won't be abused. I believe this would be too much power to hand over to any governing body. Remember this, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." I want children to be safe as safe as possible at all times, however our Freedoms should NEVER under any circumstances be given up for the sake of feeling safer. Unfortunately, after the events of 9/11 people in this country have been a bit too willing to let go of freedoms in order to feel safer. But the question is, are we safer today as a result of all the changes occurring around us? I believe the answer is NO. I do not have kids of my own, but I have a large family with many kids all around me whom I love very much, and if anything happened to them it would be devestating. But implanting chips and tagging our future society is a mistake that we will make and regret forever. Thank you.
I like the idea of the GPS phone that Verizon and Disney for that matter has introduced. But phones can be lost or tossed easily by young ones or predators. I just read an article regarding VeriChips, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) which can be implanted under the skin. It's as small as a piece of rice. I want to learn more about them to protect my children. I want to do EVERYTHING I can to protect my children!
What are you going to do, Cathy, just take your children to the doctor and shaove tracking devices under thier skin? You going to tell them what you're doing? Or will you just trick them like dogs? Chirst, putting tracking devices under the skin. What's next? Would let the goverment put camaras in your home? Would you pay for that?
And Bill, think on this: "Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."~Ben Franklin, another whiner with something to hide.
FANTASTIC CONCEPT! I hope this comes to pass, as others have stated, nothing surpasses the vigilance of a parent, but as we all know this can happen so why leave it to chance?! extra precautions are necessary and wise. I have 5 small boys and only one pair of eyes. I welcome this idea with open arms,but as a nurse I have seen children hurt by their own caretakers, whats to stop an abductor from not cutting the bracelet off even if it means multilating the child to do so. Verizon should come up with an idea that this tracking device be somehow camoflauged, like in a ring or watch something that is not obvious to a criminal. thanks for listening
CHIPS IN EARS...just like we do our
pets.We can find our dog if he's lost, but if a maniac snatches our child,there left deffenceless and scared while we run in cicles.It sounds harsh,but I think ( as a mother of two)it would be a option..they could have it removed if they want at 18,and only law enforcement would have access to their where abouts in emergency scenerios.Forget Big brother cliches,this IS the new world & I'd like my family to grow old.It may not be your bag,baby..but anyone who has children will feel where I'm coming from.
I think it is a great idea, and I am sure that very soon they will make a product that isn't so easy or obvious to remove. My three girls mean everything to me and I will do anything I can to keep them as safe as possible.
That is what makes America so great! We have the choice to make a choice.
Well Lisa, who will protect your children from law enforcement themselves? I dont know if you read the news or just watch CSI but many cops themselves are predators. They drink, use drugs like marijuana, do prostitution and they do harm innocent people. (I do believe that in america, the media controls the people, thus the people know almost nothing negative about their own country.)
Also, children above the age of 12(as low as 10) start to want to be independent and if they know they carry a tracking device, they will do anything they can to remove it. Would a guy go out with a girl who has a tracking device? Or is it just another 'defect' they will hide from their friend?
In other words, they are only like 'animals/pets'(your word Lisa) till they reach independence. And that is much earlier than the age of 18. Your own child will have that many years for them to hate you for it.
One thing I dont understand with parents is how SELFISH they are! Have you people asked your own children if they would want such a device implanted in them? Or do they have no say?
Stop thinking about what you want for your children and start consulting your own children for what they want to do in their own lives.
Independence in America?? Not for the children.
-- Hugh
NICELY PUT Hugh. Although I agree w/ some type of GPS ONLY for the return of a missing child......this is an invassion of privacy to adults as well as the kids. eVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE MORE THAN 1 PAIR OF EYES IT IS OUR RESPONCIBILITY AS PARENTS TO KNOW WHAT OUR KIDS ARE UP TO AT ALL TIMES. IT'S UP TO US TO TEACH THEM RIGHT FROM WRONG AND GIVE THEM THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE AND UP TO US TO TEACH THEM HOW THEY BECOME TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS.
INDEPENDENCE IN AMERICA......FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS......ISN'T THAT WHY THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT.
I think this is a great idea... I just wish they had come out with it sooner...my little sister has been missing for 7 months now...you should want to know where your kids are all times its your responsibility as a parent to do so...abductions do happen and theres nothing that can stop them even if your trusting your child to go and do the right thing at least this tracking device will help you find them before its too late...
THANK GOD FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not wait for this service to be available on all phones. for those posters who think this is an intrusion....FINE don't get it but don't come crying to everyone else when you kid is in trouble and you don't know where they are or who ther are with. That is the problem with most parents today. Children need boundries, they need to test their wings but with moderation.
This service is long time coming!!! WHERE DO I SIGN UP!!!!!!!!!!
finally I can say I HEAR YOU NOW VERIZON!!!!
Come on now... $10-15 a month = $120-180 a year for something that tracks a child when and only when the child has the phone?. We can talk about big brother and all the bad cops and people in the world, but why. If you truly believe all that then don't go outside. They are waiting on you. Anybody takeing a child WOULD NOT let the kid keeep the phone, not becasue it's a GPS but becasue IT IS A PHONE and the child will use it. This WILL NOT HELP in recovering stolen childern, but would only be used by parents to spy on the kid. I doubt that anyone here had a cell phone when they were 9 (Great! Way to put it to use Donna) and yet here you all are. Hmmm...
I am a parent of one (4 year old) and truly would not give him a phone with GPS. This would undermind his trust in me becasue I basicly told him "I dont trust you." Regardless how you explain it... a child needs some priviacy and if you feel like you have to track your child, then they will definatly never tell you where they are going (P.S Why should they when you can find out on your own?) and maybe they should stay at home with you away from all the bad cops, people...etc.
In regards to finding abducted childern. This is not going to help. If the abductor is dumb enough to leave a phone (any phone) with the child. I bet he's probaly not smart enough to cross the street. But whatever. I guess Verizon needed someway to market a useless service so people would but it.
Come on now... $10-15 a month = $120-180 a year for something that tracks a child when and only when the child has the phone?. We can talk about big brother and all the bad cops and people in the world, but why. If you truly believe all that then don't go outside. They are waiting on you. Anybody takeing a child WOULD NOT let the kid keeep the phone, not becasue it's a GPS but becasue IT IS A PHONE and the child will use it. This WILL NOT HELP in recovering stolen childern, but would only be used by parents to spy on the kid. I doubt that anyone here had a cell phone when they were 9 (Great! Way to put it to use Donna) and yet here you all are. Hmmm...
I am a parent of one (4 year old) and truly would not give him a phone with GPS. This would undermind his trust in me becasue I basicly told him "I dont trust you." Regardless how you explain it... a child needs some priviacy and if you feel like you have to track your child, then they will definatly never tell you where they are going (P.S Why should they when you can find out on your own?) and maybe they should stay at home with you away from all the bad cops, people...etc.
In regards to finding abducted childern. This is not going to help. If the abductor is dumb enough to leave a phone (any phone) with the child. I bet he's probaly not smart enough to cross the street. But whatever. I guess Verizon needed someway to market a useless service so people would but it.
Just a quick note. I agree with most of the postings (except Charlies) But I do not like the idea of a surgically implanted chip. I have nothing to hide, however, just remember the animals that abduct probably will not think twice about doing whatever is necessary to remove such a device from under your childs skin! This isn't big brother - this is about parents who really care. Keep the prospective and stop with the drama!
Wow, theres kind of a lot to go through here, but I'll do my best. I stumbled upon this page by accident but feel compelled respond. I am currently 18 years old, and I think that the points Hugh has made is very important. Knowing that someone is being/can be tracked can be harmful to that person. In all honestly, if you know anything about how terrible children can be too eachother you will not submit your child to the potential mockery etc. that they would potentially endure if the 'other' kids found out the they were being tracked.
By tracking your child you also set yourself up to be pushed even further away in their teenage years. I am certain that very few children/teens will have any desire to communicate with you as their parent if they are being tracked.
The next thing that must be addressed: Some of you have mentioned that you just want your child hanging around with the "right crowd." I'll tell you something I've learned throughout highschool. People make their own decisions. Hanging out with someone in particular just allows for blame to be shifted, but if your child is malleable enough to make decisions based on what "everyone" is doing than there is a problem.
I have always been very independent and whenever my parents, whom I love very dearly try to control me more than usual it makes me lash out and get angry. I do not stand alone, this is a very common teenage trait. Parents always think they're doing whats best for their child, but as times change and society changes, what was right when the parent was in school is no longer up to date.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU ALL CAN DO AS PARENTS IS SHOW AND TEACH(BEST BY PROPER EXAMPLE) THE VALUES YOU WANT BESTOWED UPON YOUR CHILDREN. THEN YOU CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT DANGERS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.
When a child is youg, someone you know and trust should always be watching it. When your child grows older, you have to believe that what you have taught them will help keep them safe. And if you have not taught them anything, then you'd better not track them to try and make up for bad parenting skills.
PS. I didn't directly mention it, but if you don't trust that your teenage child is making 'good' decisions, the problem is with YOUR skills.
Unbelievable. These days, any topic of conversation will invariably turn into an argument about politics. So, let's get that out of the way first: "Wayne", you don't have to be a Republican or a conservative to care about children. We all need to stop with the hateful and ignorant rhetoric.
Now, for the real topic: Tracking devices, be they on cell phones or implanted, are only as reliable as the abductor's awareness. There are only three possible scenarios after that.
One, the abductor is aware of a device and will go to any measure to remove such a device and take your child. Two, the abductor is aware of the device, but does not want to take a chance and moves on. Three, the abductor is not aware of a tracking device.
My guess is that the majority of these psychos keep up with what's going on in child safety so they can be one step ahead. Remember, these are sick, twisted people.
So what's a parent to do? In my opinion, the best offense is a good defense. Parents need to make children perfectly aware that there are people out there who want to hurt them. Then, you arm them with the knowledge they will need to protect themselves. "Not talking to strangers" is just not enough these days. Tell children to scream and run if a stranger approaches them and tries in any way to move them from their location. Tell them to do anything they can NOT to go with this stranger. Odds are, if they do go with this stranger, they will not be coming back.
While tracking devices may steer some abductors away, you still need to protect your children from those that would take them regardless of the device. So get your cell-tracking device, but don't get so comfortable with the idea that you don't cover all the other dangerous possibilities.
Am I missing something here? When did we give up the responsibility and the right to know where our children are each and every second of the day? When did it become a violation of their privacy? That's ridiculous...who's running the show?? It's our responsibility as parents and guardians to care and protect our children until they reach adulthood at which time they can care for themselves. The fact is...GPS is here. You have to know that "Big Brother" is already using this technology. You're kidding yourselves if you think no one is using this already. We as consumers and citizens have recently been introduced to it. Is this how we're going to respond? Personally, I wouldn't add the tracking to my kids cell phones because I believe my kids when they tell me where they are and if they're lying to me (and they do lie), I eventually find that out in time too. This is a "luxury" service just like cell phones, and I say if a parent feels safer adding GPS to their childs cell phone then they should go for it. That's what it's there for! If I wanted to add GPS to my childs phone I wouldn't hesitate doing so and If they gave me any lip about privacy and so forth I'd take that cell phone back in a heartbeat. As for under the skin tracking, I say we save that for the predators!
Chris is right. Putting tracking devices on phones WILL NOT PREVENT kidnapping or any of that. Hell the first thing a kidnapper would do is search for any contacting device e.g. a phone, and throw it away with or without the tracking device.
THIS SERVICE WILL NOT PREVENT KIDNAPPING OR SIMILAR!
The only thing you can get out of it is either finding where you lost your phone, or spying on your children on what they are doing.
Trust me, no such device short of implanting it on children, will prevent bad things from happening.
I am on the side of children here. NOT the side of parents.
Such tracking devices is a big big advantage for parents over their children. NOT over anything else but only over children. And that scares me to hell.
-- Hugh
I disagree with the implatation for sure, not that I have anything to hide, but if I did, I would definately want to be able to hide it well, WOULDT YOU! As for the phone, I concider it a direct line to your most valuable treasure. Anyone could sit and think up a thousand senarios either way good or bad. For the teen that doesnt want to be followed, REMOVE THE BATTERY DUHH!! For an insecure child forced out into an insecure world, instant direct communications with mom and dad is priceless. And with GPS tracking if lost the child can be told "Just stay where you are I will be right there" Different age groups have different wants/needs, for the under 12 with cool parents "like me" you might find them clinging to such technology, and for teens with strick controlling parents, you might find them frequently losing their phone, and know nothing about the prepaid cell they keep hidden. As for abduction, the phone will have to do for now, as it is still better than nothing, and might even prove valuable for a kid who knows how and when to keep it as well hidden as possible. I would certainly hope for smaller more inconspicuace GPS tracking in the futer. You sold me verizon. And I am as anti bigbrother as they get
I have considered getting one of these phones for my child, who doesn't have a very good sense of time. Kids may tell you where they're going, but they may not be there when it is time to come home. Sometimes where they go is spur-of-the-moment, and it's a kid thing. With a GPS locator phone, I can go to the web-site, see where my child is, and then decide if I want to walk down and get him, or call him and tell him to come home. I don't have to go running around looking for him. I have considered the advantages of my child having a GPS so he can be found if he is picked up. If the abductor rips the phone off the kid's neck, then at least you can track the phone, and you will know where the child was picked up. As a bonus, the abductor may have left fingerprints on the phone, which will make finding the abductor easier if you can get a database match. The main reason I considered this kind of phone is that kids will be kids. They lose things, they drop things, they misplace things. Some kids don't have a very firm idea of personal property, and your kid's cell phone may end up at their house. (Remember, you need to be judicious, and the other kid's parents wouldn't like you to say their little darlings steal things.)The added advantage of a GPS locator phone is that you can tell where the phone is within 10 feet, so you can retreive it.
Hey Wayne cell phones have had GPS for a while now and you can turn it off except for the police. They can locate you via your cell phone and this is not new. Its just making the info more available.
If the interest is to track a child when abducted, big brother has another tool they can use, satellite tracking. The government could record images that can read a car's license plate from space, therefore when a child abduction takes place, then big bro could just play back the recorded images from the moment the abduction took place, and then they can follow and locate the criminal and abducted child. The technology is there, but it is not used for obvious reasons.
I hope all if you who have kids and are against the idea of this awesome concept never have to experience the pain of losing a child. I have a 4 month old daughter which I would do anything in this world to protect, with or without big brother watching. If the law wants to prosecute someone for endangering the welfare of a child well guess what, that makes you responsible for that child and you do what you can do to protect them. I will do my best to ensure my daughter makes the right decisions in life, hoping she hangs out with the right crowd, but there is only so much a parent can do and the one thing they can not do is change this sick society. I don't want to track her every little movement, but having the mind set that if she does not come home when she says she was going to, and not receiving a phone call puts my mind at ease knowing I can find her.
For you other skeptics, do you actually think that the government is not watching your every move now? They can watch you pissing on tree in the middle of the African rain forest and watch you shake it when you are done if they wanted to. They will let you know what they want you to know. Bill hit it right on the head, if you have nothing to hide don't worry about. If good old George wants to listen to me having phone sex with my wife listen on in (It would be a short conversation anyway).
As far as the phone it certainly has to be another device, but it is a start. I like the idea of under the skin, perhaps a earring or other piece of jewelry and maybe even a keyword that you can choose that would activate the device and send a distress single to the parents and the monitoring agency. I am sure all this will happen in time. As far right now my daughter has no idea what her rights constitutional rights and even if she was a little older and she was in some kind of trouble I am sure she would love to see Mom or Dad vs. the person who kidnapped her. Take Onstar for example, you get into a car accident, you are in the middle of nowhere but you know because your airbag deployed help is on the way (Thanks to GPS). Imagine your child kidnapped, guess what they know help is on the way and will thank you for the device.
As for Charlie I have no comment other than BRAINLESS!
I think an implanted device is a great idea under certain conditions. 1)The computer that tracks the devices are NOT hooked up to the internet. 2) The computer that tracks the devices are NOT in the hands of the government unless we give permission for the information to be shared for the sole purpose of locating a victim. At no time would the government be in possession of the tracking information... only through cooperation with the tracking company. 3) The implant should be randomly placed for each individual and not detectable with a metal detector so that criminals cannot find it and remove it. 4)A one-time fee should be charged for implanting the device, and a fee should be charged for each time the parents ask to locate the child (this will make the device more widely available while cutting down on over-protective parents "spying" on their teenagers) 5)At the age of 18, the device will be deactivated unless the child signs a continuation agreement and pays a small fee for "adult tracking status." This would protect an adult (usually female) who might potentially be kidnapped and raped.
What about "left behind parents" with their children? These are American parents who married foreign-born spouses and are now either separated or divorced. How could the American parents rescue their children from possible abduction? Does anyone know if these phones or the RFID's have saved someone in an abduction/kidnapping? Is there a strong opposition to the implantation devices and, if so, why? The possibility of losing any of my five children under 8 to their overseas father is very very real. The State Dept basically said that it is the PARENTS responsibility to know where their children are at all times. I certainly do, but it wouldn't be anything for someone to stop my car, get rid of me, and abduct my children at gunpoint. They'd speed away and in no time be at some airport with fake passports and on a plane. There's NOTHING that can be done to stop them unless the State Dept is notified ASAP as to their location. I would not know my childrens' location if not for these chips. As for my childrens' rights, how about the right to having a "normal" childhood free and safe from harm, ANY harm? If tagging a child will ensure that their location is known then I am all for it (except for when they turn 18 like Amy suggested and all of her great comments). In the little bit of peace our country has tried to restore since 911 I'm more than happy to be safer. This is just one new form of technology to be used to ensure our childrens' safety. Thanks for all the wonderful comments, too, from previous postings. It's given us a LOT to think about.
There is a danger to tracking devices in a cellphone:
A person who gains access to the childs phone for a brief moment can become the tracker! He can punch in the number of his own cellphone to become the phone to track the child, wait for confirmation message and delete that message from the inbox. Neither you nor your child knows it, but when he returns the phone to the child, he's now got the child followed.
Is that ever a chilling scenario: your child being tracked by someone who's looking for the right moment to strike, someone who can follow your child's movement for days, and gets to know their routine...
BBC wrote an article on this - please see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4747142.stm
I think this would be an awesome idea for those of us with special needs children. Other than that reason, I think we would become the kid's enemy. As a parent, yes I want to make sure my kids are staying out of trouble, but as the parent of a teen, I know that there are some things I just don't want to know about.