Privacy (Regimes) Do Not Threaten Location Technology Development

Abstract

Location technology allows for the tracking and tracing of individuals. Users may increasingly be concerned about the abilities of new technology to keep an eye on ones' private life. There are concerns that the increased privacy awareness among citizens and legislation may hinder the success and further development of these technologies. An analysis of the European legal framework for protecting individual's privacy versus private sector use of location information and public sector use in the intelligence services indicates that individuals should be most aware on intrusions in their privacy by intelligence services. The privacy legislation lets the user be in control of the decision if and when his location information may be used by private sector location based services providers. Users seem often willing to allow this, judging by the increase in available location based services. The privacy legislation is not as protective regarding the use for law enforcement and secret intelligence purposes. Thus the location technology industry is also likely to prosper from the investments of the public intelligence sector.