Every move you make is being tracked by your iPhone

It has emerged that the Apple iPhone and iPad contain a hidden file that tracks the owner's location and records it on the device along with the time and date.  Then when the owner syncs their device with a computer, the information is transferred to the hard drive of the computer. Anybody with access to the computer, including a hacker, could then trace the user's movements. Or, if the device was lost or stolen, a stranger would be able to view the location data with the right software. The researchers behind the discovery say: "By passively logging your location without your permission, Apple have made it possible for anyone from a jealous spouse to a private investigator to get a detailed picture of your movements." It is not known why Apple is collecting the data, or whether the function can be disabled. While there are legitimate uses for location data services, it is unlikely that the majority of owners are aware that this is happening.  It is buried among reams of terms and conditions. Owners of other smart phones need not be complacent.  For example, there is tracking software available for parents to keep a track on their teenage children without their knowledge. The original report was broadcast by Sky News Online.

US Government refuses to release data that could locate missing children

The United States government, by its own admission, has IRS tax data that could be helpful in tracking down thousands of missing children. The information is not forthcoming because taxpayer privacy laws severely restrict the release of information from tax returns. An I.R.S. spokeperson said: “We will do whatever we can within the confines of the law to make it easier for law enforcement to find abducted children” The privacy laws were enacted to prevent Watergate-style abuses of confidential taxpayer information. There are specific exceptions allowing the I.R.S. to turn over information in child support cases and to help federal agencies determine whether an applicant qualifies for income-based federal benefits.  However, because of guidelines in the handling of criminal cases, there are several obstacles for parents and investigators pursuing a child abductor — even when the taxpayer in question is a fugitive and the subject of a felony warrant. It seems wrong that some federal laws seemed more concerned with the privacy of a fugitive than the safety of children. “When your kids are taken from you, the hardest part is at night, thinking about them going to sleep. You wonder who’s tucking them in, who will hug them if they have a bad dream or taking them to the bathroom if they wake up. And you ask yourself whether you’ve done everything possible to find them.” For the full story see NY Times

Father arrested after wandering child is found

A wandering child was found on a street in Lantana at around 9:28 a-m. He was barefoot, wearing Thomas the Tank Engine pyjamas and had a temporary tattoo on his left arm. It was not until noon that his grandmother showed up, saying that there had been a mix-up with who was supposed to be watching the child. She thought that her son, the boy's father, had him, while he thought that she was taking care of him. Investigators say they arrested the boy's father soon after the boy was found and charged him with child neglect.  He reportedly said that he checked on his child who was asleep before he went to work, then left, assuming his roommate would watch the child.  He made no further attempt to contact his roommate or anyone else in the household to make sure the child would be supervised. Original report from News Channel 5

Posters of missing children may not help kids in danger

Two thousand children are reported missing every day. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children the best way to find them is to place high visibility missing persons posters.  NBC Connecticut went undercover to conduct an experiment into the usefulness of such posters and found that they often go unnoticed.  A reporter place missing child signs at a Market then the "missing" six year old girl in the poster walked around the same store with her dad for an hour.   Most store visitors didn't even notice the missing child signs. The shoppers who did see the posters, including some who took take a closer look, walked right by the girl.  Several people even talked to the girl and her dad, and yet still nobody realised the connection.  One lady said she noticed the little girl, but assumed she was okay because she didn't seem distraught. Police say this kind of mistake can be costly. Abducted children don't always act like they're in danger.  Often, they will have been lied to by their abductor and may therefore be unaware that they are in danger. It's a very disturbing lesson for us all. There is hope that child tracking devices may provide at least some answer to these problems.  However, education of the general public is also important if safety measures are not to be in vain. The original story can be found at msnbc

First there was child audio surveillance - now there is Visual Surveillance too

Voice surveillance is a feature of child tracking devices that has recently been discussed at childtracking.org.  Now it seems that technology is taking the next logical step with Visual Surveillance being added to the list of features. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have created a new child tracking device that will also allow parents to remotely see what their child is viewing.  In addition to existing child tracking device features, it will also monitor their pulse. When the child's heart rate is faster than usual, an instant photo is taken from the child's  point-of-view.  The parent is then alerted to access an activity log on a website where they can see photos taken during the day. So, is this a step too far?  Is it a feature you would welcome, or could it be misused by paedophiles.  Would you be happy knowing that other children in your child's school was wearing such a device?

Kidnap of children by strangers is NOT Child Abduction

According to a definition of Child Abduction by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police Ministry of Foreign Affairs "A typical example of child abduction is when a parent removes a child from a country unlawfully, i.e. in contravention of the other parent’s custody rights. A child can also be retained abroad unlawfully following a lawful stay (e.g. for holiday or access purposes). The rules on child abduction and retention are identical, and the term child abduction is therefore used for both. In most cases, the child is abducted by one of the parents, although the same rules apply to abduction by grandparents or other relatives. Cases where a child is kidnapped by strangers, including where a ransom is demanded, do not constitute child abduction as defined here." The full text can be found here

Worried parents meet police after abduction attempts

Police in Crawley invited worried parents to their HQ in the town to discuss their concerns after two child abduction attempts were reported. In the first incident, a girl aged thirteen was targeted by a man and a woman as she walked near a school.  The second abduction attempt took place when an 11-year-old boy was told to get into a car by two strangers on his way to a local Youth Club. Both children were fortunately able to run away. According to the Crawley Neighbourhood policing Team: "We held a very positive meeting with parents and we all had a frank and open discussion about these incidents.  We take reports of this nature very seriously and clearly emotions are running high among parents and children alike.  We are working very closely with local schools and communities to provide the best service we possibly can and to ensure there are clear lines of communication so that any future concerns are addressed quickly and efficiently." A further meeting is planned for 26th October 2010 as reported in Sussex news The issue of Child GPS tracking by parents for Kids in School was discussed in a recent article at childtracking.org.