Consent, Tracking and the Law
A location request and tracking software can both produce a point on a map, but they are not the same act. One waits for a tap; the other runs whether or not the person knows.
These guides set out the consent question, the law around pinging someone’s phone, and the difference between sharing a location and tracking a person.
Consent is checked at the moment of the request, and a yes can be followed by a no. Knowing someone, or having their number, is not permission to locate them.
What this topic covers
- The line between asking for a location and taking one without a yes.
- What the law says about pinging a phone when the answer is no.
- Why an earlier yes does not cover the next request.
- Why a tracking app and a shared link are judged differently.
Guides in this topic
Is It Illegal to Ping Someone’s Phone?
The law around pinging someone’s phone, and the consent it expects.
September 2, 20267 min readCan You Track a Phone Without Them Knowing?
Why silent tracking fails the consent test.
September 8, 20266 min readLocation Sharing vs Tracking Apps
Sharing and tracking side by side, and the line between them.
October 15, 2026Related topics
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