This is #FakeNews click-bait of the worst kind.

The article literally says and shows that it's off by default on iPhone but rampantly speculates it might be turned on surreptitiously even though every public statement by Apple has said otherwise. The facility exists, but the user has full control over it. The user must install an app and for the user to do that, the app needs to be approved by Apple.

There was another article recently stating that very few people have installed any of these apps making the facility completely useless. Sounds like the people have already spoken and they know it is bullshit.