This seems like the obvious choice as long as there is no guaranteed way to remain undetected while carrying a phone. The best thing protesters can do is leave their phone at home. What can citizens do to protect themselves, especially if they are protesters pressuring governments to reform? My colleague Roger Bohn discusses this issue on his excellent blog “The Art and Science in Technology.” Here’s a condensed version of his recommendations: Those who do have inside information on these processes (spy agencies, telecom companies, Facebook, Google, etc.) have incentives to keep this information private and keep smartphone users unaware of the extent of their activities. There is still much we don’t know about how personal data from cell phones and internet connections can be collected and used. A recent front page story in the New York Times outlined all the ways in which spy agencies can use streams of data emanating from smartphones to locate individuals. Again, turning phones “off” as one is travelling abroad or in the car is no guarantee that the phones are actually off. Cell phones tapping into wi-fi connections can also be easily located. But my technologically sophisticated colleagues strongly suspect that the GPS signal continues to be sent even when the phone appears inactive. I say “likely” because no one (not Google, not Apple, not Snowden) has confirmed that this is possible. Phones with GPS devices likely can be tracked even if they are shut off and in airplane mode. Individuals can avoid this old-fashioned type of tracking by turning off their cell phones or putting their cell phone on airplane mode, but they can still be tracked using other means.
The exact position of every cell phone can be located by triangulating the pings cell phones send to multiple cell phone towers in their vicinity. The problem is that there are at least three ways in which governments can monitor the location of individual citizens. Others believe they can evade tracking by turning off the GPS function on their cell phones. Many believe that they become “invisible” by turning off their smartphone or putting it in airplane mode. People still don’t yet understand the full implications of a world in which governments can monitor and track citizens at all times. What’s becoming clear, however, is that governments are two steps ahead of citizens in terms of personal communications technology (and the secrecy by which they guard their information). We like to think that cell phones and social media have given citizens the advantage in overthrowing bad leaders and repressive regimes.
The behavior of the Ukrainian government (as well as Edward Snowden’s ongoing revelations) are beginning to reveal the extent to which the information war is being won by governments. Who doesn’t like to play Angry Birds, use Google Maps, or upload a sunset to their Facebook page? Who hasn’t thanked Apple for including free location tracking on their phone if it’s lost or stolen? Last Tuesday, however, the Ukrainian government provided hard evidence that governments are using cell phones to geo-track citizens and implicate them in “anti-government activities.” Governments (including the United States) have been cagey about whether they collect and keep location data on average citizens, but last week’s mass text sent to Ukrainian protesters makes even the most paranoid technophobe seem prescient. IOS 12 gives a reminder that Airplane Mode is in use by graying out both the Cellular and Personal Hotspot settings and making them inaccessible.There’s an enormous amount of misperception, cluelessness, and uncertainty about the implications of carrying a cell phone which I’d like to address.įor years, people have lived in blissful ignorance about the potential implications of putting GPS devices in cell phones and uploading vast amounts of personal information to the web. Tap Wi-Fi and if it’s off, toggle it on.Open Settings and toggle Airplane Mode on.How to use Wi-Fi with Airplane Mode on iPhone Looking to use Wi-Fi on your plane or maybe you need to keep your cellular data in check? Follow along for how to use Wi-Fi with Airplane Mode on iPhone.Įven with Airplane Mode turned on, you can still use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With iOS 12, you may find that you’ll remain connected to the Wi-Fi network you’ve been using even after turning on Airplane Mode. But in some cases you’ll need to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on manually after toggling on Airplane Mode.Īs the image shows below, you can check your Wi-Fi connection status by looking at the status bar you should see it next to the airplane icon.
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