Someone bought this up in work so I though I'd ask, are phone compaines aloud to give out other peoples information? For example if you give them a phone number can they track it and give the info etc?

They could, but they won't.

Under the data protection act they cannot.

You mean locate someone by tracking their number ?

It 'can' be done I believe by triangulating which masts they are using (or even easier if they have GPS turned on) but would they give you that info ? no ... not unless you are the police !

If you are meaning a more general 'can you track a phone' from a concerned parent perspective then there are Android Apps on the market (and probably Apple apps too) that you can install on phones and then 'permit' tracking/location. or at its most basic 'Wheres My Droid' allows you to send a nominated key word/phrase by text to a mobile and it will either turn it on and ring (for a lost phone) or enable GPS and return a location.