Understanding nonconsensual location-tracking

Location-tracking can take place in many ways—some obvious, others hidden. Sometimes the person being tracked shared access in the past and no longer feels safe. Other times, tracking happens without their knowledge at all.

If it feels like someone always knows where you are—even if you’re not sure how—it’s okay to trust that feeling. Location tracking can be hidden, subtle, or tied to past relationships or shared accounts. You don’t need to have proof to start taking steps or seeking support. What matters most is how it’s affecting your sense of safety.

Here are some of the most common methods, but remember we’ll share strategies for combatting location-tracking further on in this section.

What it can mean for us: Identifying nonconsensual location-tracking

Location tracking doesn’t always look like a tracker hidden in a bag or a phone setting someone changed without permission. Sometimes it’s subtle—like a person always showing up uninvited, knowing things they shouldn’t, or using concern as a cover for control.

It’s natural to feel uncertain or to second-guess our instincts, especially if someone once had access or we shared our location willingly in the past. But even if we’re not sure how it’s happening, what matters most is how it feels—and what kind of impact it’s having day to day.

Red flags to look out for

• Someone always seems to know where we are, even if we didn’t tell them.
• A partner, friend, or family member gets upset if our location is turned off or hidden.
• Unexpected visits or messages referring to our private movements or routines.
• Finding tracking apps or location settings turned on without our knowledge.
• Someone refusing to delete access to shared accounts or location tools, even after a breakup or boundary change.
• Receiving alerts about unknown devices or location-sharing requests we didn’t approve.
• Noticing unusual changes to our phone, laptop, or other device—like overheating, rapid battery drain, or a sudden spike in data usage. (These signs may suggest that spyware or another type of monitoring software has been installed without our knowledge.)

How we might feel

• Like we’re being watched, even in private moments.
• Afraid to go to certain places, or always looking over our shoulder.
• Hyper-aware of what we post online, in case it reveals our location.
• Trapped in a routine we didn’t choose—changing plans, taking different routes, or staying home just to feel safe.
• Confused, anxious, or unsure whether the tracking is real.
• Frustrated that others don’t seem to understand how serious it feels.

Questions we can ask ourselves

• Is someone tracking my movements without my full, ongoing consent?
• Do I feel afraid, monitored, or unable to move freely?
• Have I changed how I travel, communicate, or post online because of someone else’s behaviour?
• Does someone react negatively when I try to create physical or digital space?
• Even if I can’t prove it—do I feel unsafe or violated by how someone always seems to know where I am?

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We don’t need definitive proof to take our safety seriously. If something feels off, we’re allowed to trust that feeling, even if we’re still figuring out what’s happening. 

The impact of AI

AI is making it easier to track someone’s location without their knowledge—often in ways that don’t rely on traditional GPS apps or physical trackers. If it feels like someone always knows where you are—even without access to your phone or apps—it’s okay to trust that instinct. There are steps you can take, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

These technologies can make tracking feel harder to detect, harder to explain, and harder to stop. Even when we disable location services or change devices, AI may still be used to monitor our movements in subtle, invisible ways. We’ve listed some of the most common AI-related risks here.

Remember, AI is evolving quickly

The clues that once helped us spot AI-generated content aren’t always reliable any more. Things like extra fingers in photos or blurry edges around objects were once common signs, but new tools are improving fast. 

Instead of relying on those glitches, it’s more helpful to look at the bigger picture. These are some helpful questions to ask:

• Does the image or audio feel believable? 
• Who originally shared it, and where did it come from? 
• Can you double-check it through another reputable source or tool? 

Trusting your instincts, asking questions, and slowing down can all help make sense of what you’re seeing or hearing.

You’re not alone if you’re thinking…

Realising someone might be tracking your movements—especially without your consent—can feel invasive, confusing, or terrifying. Some people second-guess themselves. Others feel isolated, unsure who to trust, or afraid to go about daily life. 

Whatever we’re worried about, we can be sure that we’re not alone—others have had the same thoughts. Here are some reflections and concerns survivors often share.

Things we can do

Nonconsensual tracking often takes advantage of tools meant to make life easier—like location-sharing, account syncing, or smart devices. These proactive steps can help reduce risk, increase control, and make it harder for someone to monitor our movements without our consent.

Taking these steps can be exhausting—both emotionally and practically. It’s okay to move at our own pace and choose only the steps that feel manageable right now. No one should have to manage this alone. Support is available, and we deserve safety, privacy, and peace of mind.

Further steps and support

Discovering or suspecting nonconsensual location-tracking can be disorienting and frightening. There are steps that can help us regain control and feel safer, even if the source of the tracking isn’t yet clear.

Document the abuse

• Take screenshots of any location-sharing settings, tracking alerts, or app activity that show your movements were being monitored without consent.
• Keep a written record of incidents—such as the times someone showed up unexpectedly, mentioned your private location, or changed settings on your device or accounts.
• Safety Net Project can provide helpful guidance on how to document online abuse.

Reporting options

• To platforms: If the tracking is happening through apps or shared services, consider in-app reporting or adjusting settings to revoke permissions.
• To the police: Nonconsensual tracking may be a criminal offence—especially if it’s part of a larger pattern of stalking, harassment, or coercive control. Depending on local laws, it may be possible to report it to the police or a national online harm reporting service.
• At work or school: If a colleague, employer, or classmate is involved, it may be an option to report through internal safeguarding or HR teams.

Getting support

• Digital safety organisations like Operation Safe Escape can help review devices, remove spyware, and develop a safety plan.
• Domestic abuse and stalking services are often familiar with technology-based monitoring and can offer trauma-informed support. Check our Global Directory for local support services near you.
• Friends or family can assist with reviewing settings, updating devices, or just offering emotional support while navigating next steps.

What we’ve covered in this section

In this section, we’ve outlined some of the different ways someone can monitor our location without our consent—through apps, shared accounts, smart devices, or external trackers. We’ve looked at how AI tools and cross-platform tracking are making location surveillance harder to detect. And we’ve explored a number of strategies for prevention (like checking location settings, securing shared accounts, and how to detect external trackers).

When someone’s tracking our every move (or we suspect that they are), it can be hard to think about anything else. It’s okay to take it step by step, and this guide is here to come back to at any time. For now, these are the main points to note.