1y ago

Privacy respecting location tracking without phone

Hey all,

I'm looking for something that can track location of my preschooler who starts new school soon. He's too young to get a smartphone, so I have to rule out app based solutions I guess.

My initial research found virtually nothing. One candidate is GeoZilla, which sells nice devices and their pivacy policy looks okayish regarding location data, but it still relies on their servers of course. Another option would be an iWatch, which again puts trust into 3rd party, and the device is quite expensive for a small kid.

Any privacy-oriented trackers out there that I'm missing. Maybe there are some smartphone alternatives that can have cell connectivity and GPS and apps installed, but with much simpler interface?

Update: Thanks everyone! I got GeoZilla tag for now. The app doesn't require personal information, which is good. However, it's annoyingly reminds to enable location for itself to track "me", which I don't need at all. Garmin came as a strong second, mainly due to my child age. Garmin devices are not for very young kids, I believe. And it costs more than GeoZilla. I still have some time to think if I really want this, though. It's not too late to return GeoZilla tag

23 comments

you are asking how to track someone in a privacy community? 🤨
- Yes, because 5 year old child is not supposed to venture away from school.
  
  of course not, but how would this even be possible? are there no teachers that look after the kids? i don't think a tracker is the right way to go, but that's just my opinion, do what you like 🤷
- maybe, but what about the kids privacy?
- It’s ok children can’t consent so anything a parent decides must be ok \s

AirTags track without the need of a SIM card, they use other peoples iPhones to update the GPS of the beacon. Not sure how it aligns with your privacy respecting angle though.
- Do I need to have an iPhone to use an AirTag?
  
  I recently talked to a mother who track her kids with airTags, it was shocking for me at first but the kids are aware and it seems to work
  don't forget to inform teachers about this as adults accompanying kids receive warning notifications for being tracked and some (when uninformed) take it as a sign of distrust
  
  Yes

Tile is also another option but not sure how their policies are but relatively cheaper option and uses other people apps like airtag depending on location of course using Bluetooth.
- I'll check that one out, thanks!

There are devices aimed at special needs kids, think autistic kids that tend to elope. If you search with that in mind you should get more options.

Unfortunately most of the cheap trackers (airtags, tiles, etc) rely on networks of Bluetooth sniffing users, so less ubiquitous varieties will necessarily be less effective.
Even as privacy enthusiasts, my family and I have opted for Garmin products. Reliability in backwoods and off road situations is more important than privacy, and that calculation may apply to you even in urban settings given its a child you're talking about. It's a drag that you have to choose, but so it goes.
- I've heard good opinions about Garmin before, but that was in context of navigation and fitness tracking. Would it work for my use case, tracking a family member?
  
  Honestly I don't know, but worth adding to your list to look into I imagine. I know they have children's products, but I haven't had occasion to poke into that myself. You're still giving someone your (and your kid's) data, but if what you're looking for is an alternative to the Bluetooth tracking and mesh, and to Apple/Google, then solid GPS in comsumer devices seems like a good alternative product category to investigate.
  Do let us know which way you go with this. It's annoying that you can't track your kid privately, I'd just never really thought about it before. Interested to see where you land!

Disclaimer: I don't have a suggestion for you. Just a thought experiment.
I rate a product/service against a bunch of things, like privacy, ease of use, utility, necessity, etc., and come to an important radio.
I have a similar scenario (very young spectrum child), so I tried this.
It's gonna be hard to geo track anything without sharing the data unless you can launch your own satellites.
The trigger scenarios (natural disasters, kidnappers, or just general/accidental negligence/happenstance) really feel like fringe cases. While the utility of the tracking in these scenarios would be extremely high, the likelihood of their necessity is incredibly low. Especially given that the caretakers have already been extended enough trust to leave such a precious asset in their unmonitored care, so it may stand to reason that they can be entrusted to react and take care correctly in these cases.
I think the cost to benefit radio is a little off. I totally see the value, I just wonder if it isn't too much effort/expense.

Can u check https://meshtastic.org I am looking for something similar and came across this, however I'm not entirely sure yet if this works as I think it does.
- This looks interesting. But the only pre-built hardware option they have on the list, Nano G1 Explorer, is way too big for a little kid. But I may get it for adult family members for emergency situations.
  
  I've nano g1 and lilygo echo, both are prebuilt. However I agree bit too big, I'm looking for something without screen and small (there are devices but as you mentioned those are not prebuilt)

It exists a similar tracker to the airtag by Samsung but idk if you can trust them anymore than apple. I have a 9 year old step sis and with her we have had problems with her because we couldn't track her. In her school phones arent allowed at all. My mother and my stepdad really doesn't care about privacy or security their use windows China phones etc. they usually use an app provided by google " family " I think it is called there thy can also lock up the phone etc.
I am glad that I don't have the problems to be honest with you. What I would do is to look for a device that can do the job for me were the server can be selfe hosted. If literally nothing exist I would try "do it myself"
If you selfhost a nextcloud yourself this will be easier idk to be honest if this is up to date anymore and if its real time but check https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/phonetrack Set it up and glue if possible a small phone that you trust on your girl and you are ready to go
Alternatively look for a mini pcib PC like a raspberry pi zero or something like it put somehow a Sim card in there and get it to work (good luck with that). Program a software that pings your server once per minute or every two. Then you would have to make a case were you can put your mini tracker and a powerbank into. And hang this device to a belt that your girl would have to were
I know that is a very stupit way but hey more private it cant get

Get yourself a public IP address.
Develop a application that will accept requests with location data on your device. Additionally 2.5 (opt.). Display location using OpenStreetMaps.
Develop a application that will send location data continuosly to your public IP address, which will be processed by the application mentioned in step 2.
Install the application in step 2 to your device and the ~~spyware~~ application in step 3 to your child's device.
Done.

23 comments