Political / legal forces

Political and Legal driving forces of Location Based Services

'Location-based services are applications that use information about where a communication device is located. In the U.S, the European Union, and Japan, laws require that mobile telephones be able to provide location data with a fairly detailed accuracy for emergency purposes. Such information also enables location-based services in mobile commerce, which presents a major new market for the telecommunications industry.

Unlike other information in cyberspace, location information has the potential to allow an adversary to physically locate a person, and therefore most wireless subscribers have legitimate concerns about their personal safety if such information should fall into the wrong hands. Laws and rules of varying clarity, offering different degrees of protection, have been or are in the process of being enacted in the United States, the European Union, and Japan' [1]

USA History

1996Telecommunications Act: Did not specify what kind of customer consent — opt-in or opt-out — is required for Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI)
1998FCC decides that opt-in is required (own interpretation of Telecomm. Act)
1999 Wireless Communication and Public Safety Act (E911 Act): opt-in (express prior concent to use) required

• Regulation in EU is much clearer than in the USA
  

Telecom Providers on LBS Privacy Policy

T-Mobile

WHAT ABOUT LOCATION-BASED SERVICES AND INFORMATION?

Whenever your mobile device is on, the network generally knows its “location.” This location capability is what makes wireless communications possible and is how we properly bill for services. This location technology is also the basis for providing enhanced emergency 9-1-1 services.

Currently, we disclose location information to third parties when required to do so; such as in emergency situations to a public safety answering point, emergency medical service provider or emergency dispatch provider; public safety, fire service or law enforcement official, or hospital emergency or trauma care facility; or to respond to a user's call for emergency services. The law also permits us to disclose location information without consent to inform a user's legal guardian or members of a user's immediate family of the user's location in an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or serious physical harm, or to providers or managers of information in order to assist in the delivery of emergency services, or to government agencies if we reasonably believe that an emergency involving immediate danger of death or serious physical injury justifies disclosure without delay.

While the T-Mobile HotSpot service may be capable of providing certain location-based information, there is no process currently in place for making such information available in emergency situations to providers of emergency services.

T-Mobile may develop commercial location-based technologies that would bring exciting new services to our subscribers. This Notice generally will govern how location information will be collected, used and disclosed. You should also review the terms and conditions of service for any special rules governing location services.

Vodafone

Location tracking services Location services identify the location of a mobile user's handset to provide them with local information on request. Third parties provide a range of location services based on data provided by Vodafone. Location services enable the location of customers to be tracked via their mobile.

This capability has safety benefits, for example by helping emergency services to reach accidents. It can also contribute to more efficient working by mobile workers, such as taxi drivers or couriers. But the service raises concerns about privacy and consent.

We developed a policy on location services in 2004/05. It is designed to protect customers' privacy and ensure that location services cannot be used without their prior consent. The policy also gives users the ability to turn location services off and on. Services for locating children are only made available to the child's parent or legal guardian, whose identity must be verified. Compliance with this policy will be assessed in 2005/06.

References

[1]Wireless Location Privacy: Law and Policy in the U.S., EU and Japan (ISOC MEMBER BRIEFING #15)