[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14141809

Designated police officers can ask mobile networks to "ping" a customer's location.

A former News of the World journalist's allegation the newspaper paid police to track mobile phones raises serious questions about the UK's eavesdropping laws, according to experts.

Sean Hoare said it was possible to "ping" a handset's location for £300.

While there is no firm evidence to support the accusation, if true it would undermine safeguards within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Police can ask mobile networks to determine the location of a phone, based on information from nearby radio masts.

At a basic level, mobile networks can determine which cell the phone is using. In a city, that might narrow-down the location to a few hundred meters. In the countryside it could be several kilometres.

It is also possible to triangulate the position of a phone more precisely using its relative position to several masts.

Additionally, many modern phones contain GPS technology to help determine their exact longitude and latitude.

Mobile operators are reluctant to discuss exactly what level of detail they are able to provide to law enforcement, although there are examples of police tracking criminals, accident victims and missing persons by their mobile phones.

Yet another breach in personal privacy .....