Quote: In addition to the cell your phone is logged onto, the network operator can record your rough distance and the direction from it.

Actually, this is valid mostly for 2G networks. In 2G networks the distance from the cell site is the key factor in sync-ing to the network. As a result the cell constantly computes your so called "timing advance" and as a result has excellent information on the distance to your phone. It also uses only the strongest possible signal from your phone ignoring multipath and reflections from buildings.

3G is quite different. First of all, the timing advance is not used and not easily obtainable. The 3G cell cites actively use multipath and multiple reflected signals to improve the signal to noise ratio. This is done very early in the signal processing path and at very low level. As a result the cell no longer knows the distance to the mobile. While you can obtain similar data from power control it is not anywhere as reliable as timing advance. Power levels depend on anything starting with what the mobile is doing at the moment, how many mobiles are camped on the cell, weather, sun's mood, etc. Frankly anyone trying to present "we put your 3G phone here and it produced a similar power control recording" should be laughed at very loudly and suspected of fraud. Add to that the picture is muddled further (especially for data) by the phone being camped on multiple cells at the same time (aka soft handover) and the picture is complete.

So while the powers that be have a lot of present capabilities based on the GSM network, it is bound to become extremely entertaining as the 3G phones become commonplace.

Cell site analysis has provided important evidence in many recent murder cases including the murder of those two poor kids in Soham which ensured that the animal responsible is now behind bars.

Frankly, I'm glad they have the ability.

I wonder how many of the No to ID mob carry mobiles, completely oblivious to the fact that they can be tracked, kind of makes a mockery of their argument doesnt it?

Like I said in another post, I'll carry an ID card but wont pay for the privilege.

Also think about the multitude of employees at the operator who will have access to these record's, for reporting fault finding and other uses. Some with and some without scruples.

Not to mention what might be going on unseen: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/11/greek_mobile_wiretap_latest/

Screw the IDs - when I am running naked down the street, they will just have to take my word for who I am! Or else would the ID have to be implanted as a chip under the skin - which I am sure it will be at some point...

I am the registered owner of 4 phones (1 for each member of the family). The police will think I am in 4 places at once?

> we can't say where, as they operate out of a number of Post Office boxes.

Of course not, because the only way to discover the delivery address* for a PO Box number would be...

... to ring up the Royal Mail Business Centre for the area in which the PO Box is, and ask them. Anonymously. Period. That's it. The Royal Mail doesn't provide accommodation addresses (for which you used to have to have a licence under section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1920, until it was repealed by the Postal Services Act 2000... yes, really!), so ANYONE can ring up without giving their name and just ask.

PO Box numbers are provided solely for pre-sorting mail, NOT for true anonymity.

If for any reason (e.g. you speak to a numpty who doesn't know the Royal Mail's own rules), just politely tell them that you are happy to hold for as long as it takes whilst said numpty consults a manager at the nearest Royal Mail Operations Centre... and as if by magic...!

Jeez... hardly cutting-edge journalism, is it?

* But not the name of the person to which it is delivered, because of... (all together now!)... the Data Protection Act!