Smartwatches are no longer just about logging steps and displaying notifications. A lot of wearable gadgets of today have inbuilt eSIM technology which makes the devices capable of carrying out all such functions as making phone calls, accessing the internet, and running app programs independently —i.e. without the need to be paired with a phone.
However, this absolute ease of use has brought about a very unsettling question that concerns parents, partners, businesses, and privacy experts alike:
Can eSIM-enabled smartwatches be used for people tracking purposes?
Yes! That is the fact. In some instances, though, eSIM-enabled smartwatches are already being used for tracking without proper authorization or notification. The article delves into the working mechanism of tracking, the real sources of risks, and the ways through which you can take precaution.
🔍 How eSIM Watches Can Track Someone
In simple terms, an eSIM watch is equivalent to a phone with a minimum of one line of cellular connection to the latter mobile communication network. With the watch, this means:
- The watch is always in touch with the mobile towers
- Location can be recorded by the watch and then the data can be sent to the applications
- The watch, loaded with GPS, can be used in places where there is no availability of the phone
This is to say, if one gets hold of the watch or if installation of a secret tracking program is done in absence of the owner, the person can:
- Check the actual location using GPS
- Get updates of movement being performed
- Keep an eye on the travel routes followed
- Obtain information on entering or leaving certain areas through geo-fence monitoring
🚨 How eSIM Watches Are Misused for Tracking
Though the most common purpose of these devices is to keep our loved ones safe — like watching over our kids or aging parents — there’s a dark side to which they may be turned, such as:
1. Tracking Partners or Ex-Partners
Secret activation of the ultra-compact technology by some individuals is followed by deliberate concealment of the gadget in the trunk of the car, sack or child’s items so as to track and monitor someone’s location.
2. Stalking or Surveillance
The unobtrusive nature of eSIM watches and their small sizes predispose them to an easy placement in a certain spot by those who want to use the devices in locating targets discretely.
3. Misuse in Family Conflicts
During parent custody fights, there have been instances where one parent used the eSIM devices of children to keep tabs on the other without informing neither the latter nor the kids.
4. Employee Monitoring Without Approval
It’s quite common for companies to covertly keep an eye on their employees through wearable technology without giving them prior notice which in turn raises both legal and moral questions.
🛡️ Are eSIM Watches Designed for Tracking?
Usually, the eSIM watch producers promote their products as:
- Methods for monitoring one’s health and fitness
- Safety for kids and elderly people
- Easy access to network
On the other hand, none of such gadgets are secretly devised to track a person. If this is the case, it may be:
- Contravening of privacy laws
- Breaking of stalking laws
- Breaching of surveillance regulations
It is the incorrect use of the product that brings about the problem, not the product itself.
🔐 Safeguard Yourself from Unauthorized Surveillance
If you have a suspicion that surveillance is done on you via a smartwatch or any other eSIM-enabled device, do the following:
Look for, Inspect, and Remove Devices that are Yours or to which You Have Access.
Inspect the Connected Device list for Bluetooth, WiFi, or any other type of connections and see if there are other Connected Devices linked to your account inadvertently.
Look for Unexpected Data Usage
An eSIM gadget has to be given access to data even if it is in the idle mode.
Inspect Bags, Cars & Personal Items
The smallness of an eSIM watch makes it very easy to be hidden in:
- Car glove boxes
- Backpacks
- Gym bags
- Coat pockets
Disable or Scan for GPS Apps
If you suspect that a smartwatch has certain apps spying on you, remove them.
Professional Bug Sweep / TSCM Service
If the notion of hidden devices makes you uneasy, a professional sweep can:
- Help identify GPS trackers
- Detect eSIM watches
- Reveal hidden transmitters
- Discover secret listening devices
📌 Conclusion: eSIM Watches Are Convenient — But Not Risk-Free
Smartwatches having eSIM technology built-in come with the advantage of being safe and at the same time free, but improper usages of such tech are in the open. Undoubtedly, the ubiquity of undercover tracking and digital surveillance has made our need for privacy protection quite pronounced.
By knowing how to operate a smartwatch, as well as its potential uses, will be the initial actions you will need to take in order to ensure your safety.
Call TSCM Australia for more details: +61493 483 882