Carrier IQ comes under FTC and FCC scrutiny
Summary: “We are complying with all investigations at this time as we have nothing to hide.”
Federal investigators are investigating allegations that Carrier IQ software was used to track user actvity and send that information back to the carriers without user consent, according to the Washington Post.
According to the report, executives from Carrier IQ have traveled to Washington to meet with officials from the Federal Trade Commission, the government body responsible for enforcing privacy laws, as well as officials from the Federal Communications Commission. This information comes via officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Carrier IQ has confirmed that it is cooperating with federal officials.
“We are complying with all investigations at this time as we have nothing to hide,” said Mira Woods, of Carrier IQ’s marketing communications department. “We have been completely transparent through this process.”
Things are going from bad to worse for Carrier IQ. Earlier this month the tech world became aware of Carrier IQ - software installed onto millions of handsets designed to send usage and diagnostic data back to the carriers. Initially the company denied that there was anything sinister about the logging software, but it has now admitted that a bug in the software meant that SMS messages ‘may have’ been captured.
The capabilities of Carrier IQ were first bought to light by 25-year-old Trevor Eckhart.
Data leakage, whether that be deliberate or accidental, is a serious matter. It represents a breach of trust between consumer and service provider. While I can see the benefits that a tool like Carrier IQ bring to the networks and handset makers, we can’t lightly abandon privacy for the sake of a better service.
Related:
- Federal authorities opens Carrier IQ investigation into phone tracking
- Carrier IQ 'may have' collected text messages
- Carrier IQ - The FBI connection
- So, there’s a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones
- Carrier IQ patent outlines keylogging and ability to target individual devices
- Android bloatware results in serious security flaws
- Check your Android handset for Carrier IQ rootkit
- How to disable the Carrier IQ ‘rootkit’ on your iPhone
- CarrierIQ: Follow the money and it is the carriers behind it
- Finding and cleaning out your smartphone’s Carrier IQ poison
- Which phones, networks run Carrier IQ mobile tracking software?
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Talkback
RE: Carrier IQ comes under FTC and FCC scrutiny
RE: Carrier IQ comes under FTC and FCC scrutiny
Right now CarrierIQ is on the hook. They will have to proof that they have not done anything illegal.
Hold on ....
I hope that America has not changed so much under Obama that we have to "prove we did nothing illegal" instead of the Government proving that we did.
But in any case, a pox on CarrierIQ and the phone companies that thought it'd be a good idea.
The cell service providers weren't the only ones requesting this
"if they can show that all their software was installed wholly at the request of the providers themselves"
Apple also installed it themselves deep into iOS. In fact, Apple is the only OS manufacturer to have done so.
RE: Carrier IQ comes under FTC and FCC scrutiny
Just a bug ...
Mantra: Speed, Cost, Quality. Pick TWO.
So True
Sadly :(
RE: Carrier IQ comes under FTC and FCC scrutiny
UNTIL THEY CAN PROVIDE PROOF, that they are not doing what Mr. Eckhart PROVED THEY ARE DOING, then they are guilty of breaking FEDERAL WIRETAP LAW. And should be prosecuted for those crimes and shut down.
Don't just shoot the messenger
Carrier IQ only provided the tools to the real culprits, the wireless providers. All providers who sold phones with this software installed and who, unlike Carrier IQ, are actually collecting the data should also be prosecuted.
But it was manufactured or baked in to the devices.