The satellite uplinks these devices use is very bandwidth limited, and quite expensive. I can assure you that it's not routinely sending anything without telling you.

Source: worked in satellite comms

Well that’s kinda the point.

I’d think that it would not really be a concern… Google tracks your location via its apps. As do others.

But I’d be more concerned in town rather than when you’re outin the wilderness

Can you keep it turned off or battery removed when not needed for emergencies?

Why not use one of these instead? The main downside I see is that you can’t send messages. But there is no monthly service fee. :)

https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emergency-406-beacons/

If you really need to be sure these things are silent, travel with them in an ammo can or similar.

But if you choose to do that, be sure to have your phone in there too, phones are far chattier than a GPS

Idk, I think if I was in the middle of nowhere in an emergency, I would someone to know where I am, even if it’s a big corpo lol

I haven't used a SPOT for ten years, but at that time they were pretty limited in their comms. They weren't on if I didn't want them to be on, and even when in and supposedly with service, were flaky. Now, I use an InReach. It has more functionality than the devices in the past, but the connection isn't really any better. All of these devices were owned and managed under government contracts but I don't think they would be any different. I have never used them to track myself as I go, I use different equipment for that.

Long story short, you'll worry more about getting service when you need than you will about being tracked when you don't want to be. A tree canopy or tall canyon can prevent comms.

Stay safe!

Thank you all!!