James Delahunty
3 Dec 2011 9:56
Lawmaker called for Federal Trade Commission probe into Carrier IQ saga.
Over the last couple of weeks, Carrier IQ has come under pressure from all angles over software that it provides to wireless carriers and manufactures to gather some usage information from smartphones. It was alleged that the software was capable of retrieving any metric from smartphones, even what keys were pressed.
Carrier IQ vehemently denies the allegations, and wireless carriers who admit to using their software say it gathers no personal data at all. Nevertheless, the reaction has been significant from all angles, with at least one lawsuit slapped on Carrier IQ already.
Now, Edward Markey, U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district, is urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the matter, and find out if Carrier IQ, or wireless carriers, violated the privacy of millions of Americans.
"Consumers and families need to understand who is siphoning off and storing their personal information every time they use their smart phone," Markey said in a statement.
The Carrier IQ saga comes at a time when questions about the collection and storage of potentially personal information, and how its used, are being raised. The European Commission is seeking to harmonize laws related to data retention among all 27 member states that make up the European Union within the next few years.