Much has been made of requiring criminal suspects to wear GPS tracking devices, and privacy activists are concerned that GPS capability in cell phones can be used to monitor the geographical location of citizens for marketing or surveillance purposes.

But GPS devices were originally developed for navigation of aircraft, ships, and military units and vehicles. Antennas for GPS receivers are generally installed so they are exposed to open sky. The frequencies used by the satellites are not easily capable of penetrating masonry, metal, or even a thick tree canopy. I you wear a GPS ankle bracelet, the Man can’t monitor your movements when you are indoors, in the woods, under water, under ground, or in a vehicle. Even wrapping a worn bracelet in tinfoil should block the signal, and keeping your cell phone in a tin box when not in use, and using it only indoors or in a vehicle, will allow you full use without giving you away. Cell phone signals are more penetrating than GPS, and cell tower triangulation is of linited accuracy.

A fugitive could even remove his bracelet, strap it on to a vehicle where it wasn’t likely to be noticed by its owner, and it might be days before the deception was detected.

This message has been brought to you as a public service by ER.