cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/37022405

This is a carrier in the USA (T-Mobile).

I did a quick search for the other 2 carriers using the term “[Carrier Name] Family Tracking” and Verizon and AT&T also seems to have it.

And according to https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-familywhere-app, it says:

FamilyWhere uses geolocation data from the T-Mobile network and is not affected by changes to device location settings.

So it appears that its using cell tower triangulation. Turning on Airplane Mode should stop it (assuming there isn’t a separate tracking app on your phone)

Oh Wow, What a wonderful tool for abusive spouses and abusive parents. And telecom companies are making money off of it. 🙃

TLDR: Its a good idea to get your own separate cellular plan.

  • @Xanza@lemm.eeEnglish
    1•20 days ago

    Google Play Services is at the very core of Android and it will only get worse from here, and a very significant portion of the Android ecosystem requires GPS to function. Auto updates, built-in Android security features, a significant portion of secure apps like banking and financial service applications, Find my Phone, Cloud Backups, etc. The list goes on. And it’s funny because each one of these removed features are generally replaced with a third party alternative, which means you’re still trusting a third party with your data… I could understand if you didn’t want any company to have your data. That makes sense. But you specifically curtail Google who authors the OS in favor of a third party who also might be doing the same things with your data anyways. It’s all just so incredibly stupid.

    You may be completely happy with Graphene, but the overwhelming vast majority of people won’t be because it removes the specific advantages of using Android as an ecosystem.

    If you want to be free of Google, then be free of Google and don’t use hardware and an OS that they designed and made. It’s like hating Nazi’s but wearing an SS jacket because “it’s warm.” It’s fuckin’ mind-blindingly crazy.

      • dustycups
        1•19 days ago

        Big agree from me. You just forgot to take my pathological laziness & procrastination into account.
        At least this way I have the option. With apple its the walled garden. What other choices are out there? (not including dumb phones)

        Edit: punctuation

    • @pineapple@lemmy.mlEnglish
      4•20 days ago

      I’m totally on engineeringgamings side. Both apple and Google are both bad companies imo but the Android operating system is probably the best thing Google has made and you have the ability to use it without any of the Google services.

      I take advantage of side loading on a daily basis with repository’s like f droid and accresent as well as obtanium for installing apps from the source. And for the few apps I need i can use the aurora store all with never signing in with a google account.

      For me the main feature of Android is side loading and I can take full advantage of that with no google account. In my opinion the idea of an ecosystem is a negative, i want the ability to not be locked in to any specific hardware or software vendor.