Theft of location info
Revision of law necessary to protect privacy
Subcontractors of two mobile carriers sold location information of 200,000 customers. The theft shows a deep hole in the protection of location information, and is a grave infringement of the privacy of subscribers.
Police arrested engineers working for SK Telecom and KT for stealing and selling location information, which the telecom companies claim took place without their knowledge.
Investigators say private detectives and marketing companies bought the data. Private detectives misused the information for chasing unfaithful husbands, wives and lovers at the request of spouses and partners. This would provide evidence for divorce litigation or breakdown of spousal ties. Marketing firms can also analyze the consumption patterns of the subscribers.
Location-based services (LBS) are indeed the epitome of telecommunications convergence. Through mobile devices, customers can find the nearest banks and friends, while it is also useful in tracking parcels and vehicles. Consumers can enjoy mobile commerce, personalized weather services and gaming. LBS are crucial in searching for missing people.
LBS providers may know customers better than their family members as they have data about subscribers’ whereabouts and movements. Debt collectors can trace delinquent borrowers.
Disputes about the possible exploitation of location information are pending at the Constitutional Court. Two labor activists have filed a petition with the court over infringement of their privacy due to police tracking their movements during demonstrations. Law enforcement authorities can monitor criminal suspects through LBS but must inform those being tracked of their intention within 30 days in writing.
Last year, authorities used LBS to trace 120,000 criminal suspects, although it is unclear whether they used the information only in strict accordance with the law. Customers are nervous about the possible misuse of location information as intelligence agencies could possibly abuse it. As police track chronic sexual offenders through electronic tracking bracelets, so they can trace, at least in theory, all holders of mobile devices.
It is easy to exploit the information because subscribers are unable to control the current carrier-centric service. Carriers currently own and control data of customers’ locations and movements.
Carriers must allow user-centric LBS so that subscribers can own and control their personal data. Without prior authorization, carriers should not tap customers’ locations. Customers should be able to use an on-off switch to hide their real locations while still being able to enjoy the service.
Subscribers could use the location obfuscation service for the protection of their privacy.
It is still questionable whether people can control technology. Like surveillance cameras, LBS are a Panoptic which tracks everything without the knowledge of customers. Technology is also ahead of the law. Hackers can easily obtain the information. A revision of the telecommunications law has become urgent to protect the privacy of subscribers. Regulators should adopt a zero-tolerance policy against abusers of privacy.