Mobile carriers can get your GPS location

by cbeuw on 1/31/2026, 5:21:34 PM

https://an.dywa.ng/carrier-gnss.html

Comments

by: AnotherGoodName

This community should be talking about meshcore more imho.It's a peer to peer network based on Lora. It really only allows text messaging but with up to 20km hops between peers coverage is surprisingly huge. Incredibly useful if you go hiking with friends (if you get split up you can still stay in touch).See <a href="https://eastmesh.au/" rel="nofollow">https://eastmesh.au/</a> and scroll down to the map for the Victoria and now more widely Australia network that's sprung up.

1/31/2026, 6:22:18 PM

by: thisislife2

From the comments, it appears many are not aware that even the US government buys location data of users from data brokers - How the Federal Government Buys Our Cell Phone Location Data - <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/how-federal-government-buys-our-cell-phone-location-data" rel="nofollow">https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/how-federal-government...</a> ... Apparently, US cell phone companies are one of the providers of this data - US cell carriers are selling access to your real-time phone location data - <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17081684">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17081684</a> ...

1/31/2026, 6:27:36 PM

by: AlexanderYamanu

euhm, well. 112 programmer here. There are multiple levels. Cell tower triangulation come in automatically from providers. But they are only in tower numbers. They might be wrongly entered by engineers, hence the confirming question about where you are. Second is subscription information, as in registered address. Chances are if called from nearby your address, you are at your address. Next is a text to your phone number, which is intercepted by firmware and sends gps coords back. This can be turned off, since implementation.

1/31/2026, 6:22:42 PM

by: instagib

What you need iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, or iPad Pro (M5) Wi-Fi + Cellular iOS 26.3 or laterA supported carrier: Germany: Telekom United Kingdom: EE, BT United States: Boost Mobile Thailand: AIS, TrueTurn limit precise location on or offOpen Settings, then tap Cellular.Tap Cellular Data Options.If you have more than one phone number under SIMs, tap one of your lines.Scroll down to Limit Precise Location.Turn the setting on or off. You might be prompted to restart your device.

1/31/2026, 6:07:06 PM

by: jmward01

"and notify the user when such attempts are made to their device."We aren't going to remove the security state. We should make all attempts to, but it won't happen. What needs to happen is accountability. I should be able to turn off sharing personal information and if someone tries I should be notified and have recourse. This should also be retroactive. If I have turned off sharing and someone finds a technical loophole and uses it, there should be consequences. The only way to stop the rampant abuse is to treat data like fire. If you have it and it gets out of control you get burned, badly.

1/31/2026, 7:06:20 PM

by: kayodelycaon

Emergency services (with the proper software) have been able to get your precise location from your phone for a while now.This isn’t a new capability and shouldn’t be surprising.

1/31/2026, 5:53:33 PM

by: meindnoch

What if I told you that carriers can also activate your phone's microphone without your knowledge and listen in on your surroundings?

1/31/2026, 6:29:32 PM

by: qubex

So what irked that since my brand-new iPhone uses a Qualcomm “modem chip” (god, the slide of terminology makes my skin crawl) I won’t have access to this feature.

1/31/2026, 7:11:46 PM

by: 1shooner

I'd be curious about alternatives like lte/5g hotspots, maybe even a DIY versions using hats or modules.

1/31/2026, 7:21:20 PM

by: wisplike

Anyone know why apple specifies this feature requires a supported carrier? Why would the carrier matter?

1/31/2026, 7:16:32 PM

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1/31/2026, 7:14:10 PM

by: tim-tday

They can also just use math on their connection logs.

1/31/2026, 7:13:40 PM

by: atheris

What are the alternative steps that we can take in Android? How to check if it is happening?

1/31/2026, 6:50:49 PM

by: superkuh

They don't need to get your GPS location. With 4G and 5G the timing and clock precision at the basestations is enough to multi-laterate you down to about 50m (prior 3G/2G stuff was more like 100-200 meters). They are required by US law to store this multi-laterated position data track (updated every time your phone announces itself to basestations) for 2 years. But most telcos store it for more like 5+ years because it's valueable and they sell it.This is all automatic and completely pervasive. Worrying about GPS and userspace computers in the smartphone is important but even if you protect that you've already lost. The baseband computer is announcing your position by the minute. Cell phones couldn't really work without the basestations deciding where you are and which will handle you.

1/31/2026, 7:24:50 PM

by: cluckindan

Removing this ability also prevents emergency services from determining device location in case its owner goes missing.

1/31/2026, 5:59:26 PM

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1/31/2026, 5:30:22 PM

by: 2OEH8eoCRo0

Do they really need it? They can likely triangulate you without GPS regardless.

1/31/2026, 6:05:39 PM

by: wildylion

There actually should be a push for an EU-wide legislation banning this kind of silent, precise location data collection. If anything, Germany is obsessed with Datenschutz but in many cases it's just laughable security theater.

1/31/2026, 6:44:54 PM

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1/31/2026, 6:39:46 PM

by: citizenpaul

None of this matters. Your rights were taken away buy the corrupt ghouls supposedly "representing" you.2017 Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/34" rel="nofollow">https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-joint-re...</a>

1/31/2026, 6:37:28 PM

by: ZebusJesus

Phones haven't always had GPS information and they could still be tracked, if you connect to enough towers they can triangulate your location. Cell towers have been able to do this based on your signal strength for a very long time and you cant turn it off. You don't even have to have a SIM card, if the cell radio is on it pings towers period, this is why a phone even without service can dial 911 and it will work. The IMEI of your phone is unique and cell towers can track it, the government has used this and there is no way to disable it. Its not as accurate as GPS but it can be good enough to figure out a route you take and general location<a href="https://www.rfwireless-world.com/terminology/cellular-tower-triangulation#google_vignette" rel="nofollow">https://www.rfwireless-world.com/terminology/cellular-tower-...</a>

1/31/2026, 6:32:21 PM

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1/31/2026, 6:05:53 PM

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1/31/2026, 6:06:33 PM

by: onetokeoverthe

[dead]

1/31/2026, 7:56:58 PM

by: LePetitPrince