Disqus
Software like Carrier IQ, which secretly logs every action you take on your smartphone, has been a topic of major controversy since its discovery last year. Carriers and manufacturers install it on many of their (primarily Android) handsets to troubleshoot their phones, but in some cases it goes a little too far. It seems the U.S. government has taken notice and legislation is being drafted in the House of Representatives that would require mobile companies to prominently disclose when they are invading the privacy of its users by utilizing tracking software.
Ed Markey, a Democrat representative from Massachusetts, wrote the bill. “Consumers have the right to know and to say no to the presence of software on their mobile devices that can collect and transmit their personal and sensitive information,” he declares. The forced disclosure would mean carriers and manufacturers would have to inform customers of the software and get their consent before they make a smartphone purchase. VP of Marketing for Carrier, Andrew Coward, said installing its Carrier IQ software is totally optional for these mobile companies. Good, it should be that much easier to get an approval or denial from customers.
About The Author
George Tinari
George has followed technology news for quite some time, but he only started writing about it a few years ago. He particularly enjoys covering Apple, but that doesn't stop him from reporting on a wide range of topics in the mobile area. When he's not reporting for IntoMobile, you can usually find George listening to a wide array of music, trying to be funny and sarcastic, eating, or voicing his opinions about all things tech on his personal blog, GT Daily.
