logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Has the US pledged not to interfere with the world's access to GPS services?

By Samuel Henning
YES

The U.S. has publicly pledged never to interfere in operations of the Global Positioning System, which was developed for military use but has become an everyday tool for many other government, business and consumer users around the world. The core of the satellite-navigation system is funded and operated by the Defense Department and under the ultimate control of the president.

Access to GPS signals has been open to civilian users since the mid-1990s, although the U.S. retained a "selective availability" option to limit or degrade the service for some users if needed for national security reasons. In 2000, the Clinton Administration renounced any use of that option, and in 2007 the Bush Administration said future GPS satellites would be built without any capability to use such an option.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email