Al Franken, Ed Markey Press Steve Jobs On iPhone Tracking

[UPDATE: 7:25 p.m.] Android devices have been found to cache location data in a similar manner.

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Freaked out that your iPhone may be tracking your every move? So are Senator Al Franken and Representative Ed Markey, who have called on Steve Jobs to explain the situation.

Researchers found that iPhones and iPads track and record users' locations by latitude and longitude, sometimes hundreds of times a day, for up to a year, storing the file in an unencrypted format on the device.

"Anyone who gains access to this single file could likely determine the location of a user's home, the businesses he frequents, the doctors he visits, the schools his children attend, and the trips he has taken-over the past months or even a year," Franken wrote in his letter to Steve Jobs.

Franken highlights some of the potential dangers of this system, noting someone in possession of a stolen iPhone or iPad could "easily download and map out a customer's precise movements for months at a time." The senator also points out that there's no indication the software can tell the difference between minors and adults meaning that "the millions of children and teenagers who use iPhone or iPad devices also risk having their location collected and compromised."

Franken is joined by Representative Ed Markey in calling for clarity. Both want to know why Apple is collecting this information, how it is collected, what it is used for and who it's been shown to. They also want to know why consumers haven't been told their devices are recording their movements, and why the information has not been encrypted.

Franken asks, "Does Apple believe that this conduct is permissible under the terms of its privacy policy?"

While Franken has asked for a "prompt" response, Markey was more direct: He would like answers within 15 business days.

Comments

[Anarchy4hire]

08:45 PM on 04/24/2011

this is Obama's fault lol

[fgbouman]

12:51 PM on 04/25/2011

Of course it is - part of the Afro-Muslim-gay conspiracy to learn our habits so they can slip up behind us and infect us with the Gay.

[JohnTheMac]

12:40 PM on 04/24/2011

"the millions of children and teenagers who use iPhone or iPad devices also risk having their location collected and compromised."

We should also ban high school logo'd sweatshirts and varsity jackets, because people seeing "Hamilton High Wrestling" will know that child goes to Hamilton High School!
We'll also have to replace the "My daughter is an Honor Student at Jefferson Highschool" with "My offspring goes to school" to help preserve their privacy too.
What about local papers who show the winning touchdown at a local high school matchup, or a homerun at the little league game? Tsk! all compromising their privacy.
I'm waiting to see the local high school graduation where the newspaper will show the class Valedictorian, wearing a mask, using a voice scrambler for their speech, so they can maintain their privacy.
Anyone hear stories like this? Why not? They're compromising their positions!

[SmockDobie]

12:54 PM on 04/24/2011

or we can just fine Apple until they change their practice. How about that?

[JohnTheMac]

01:11 PM on 04/24/2011

sure.
Find the law they are breaking.
We'll give all the fine money to you too.
You could start a Law School with it.

Now, go back and answer my questions about all these other ways kids can be tracked. Sorry if it points out the absurdity of the fears.

[aajer]

10:46 AM on 04/27/2011

There is a larger picture here if you can manage to transcend the parent track.

[Peter Combs]

01:50 AM on 04/24/2011

they are upset, but what will they do about it?.....Ahh yes they'll form a "Study Committee", have "Hearings", write a "Report".....then a complicated bill loaded with pork.....

[Luis Resendiz]

09:27 PM on 04/23/2011

It's about time!

[Patricia Harlow]

03:14 PM on 04/23/2011

All smartphones do this. Android even beams the information back to Google. This is not news; move along.

[StevenKeirstead]

11:55 AM on 04/23/2011

It is easy to set your iPod, iPhone or iPad security so that a thief or unauthorized user would have a hard time accessing your location file. In your iOS device go to Settings, under General, turn on Passcode Lock to select a 4 digit pin. Turn on Erase Data. This sets up essential security and will erase all data on the device in the event of someone guessing your Passcode wrong 10 times.

[BlueDog1]

11:02 AM on 04/23/2011

Well at least it's not a monthly recurring cost.

Steve Apple guy buried his remote monitoring application in the up front cost.

Smile

[gelewis]

10:35 AM on 04/23/2011

I am sure glad I don't have a I-Phone or I-Pad.

[johngary66]

07:04 AM on 04/23/2011

In 2008 I was bothered by Obama's excellent ability to use double speak in his eloquent sounding speeches in which he said, well, very little really. Did it anyone else notice at the time he was doing it? Then he was elected and imediately went to work following in Bush's footsteps and forgetting every promise he ever made. He works for Wall Street now as if a Republican won in 2008. Now I hope people really don't want Wall Street, meaning any corporation, keeping close track of everywhere they go and every thing thay do because it's really feels like 1984 is here to me.

[BlueDog1]

11:00 AM on 04/23/2011

Relax Amigo, have another cup of TEA

[johngary66]

05:42 PM on 04/23/2011

ESBD1

[Soonerz]

04:14 PM on 04/23/2011

Actually, Obama made a large amount of promises as a candidate. He didn't just utilize double speak. There was significant substance to his promises. However, he has broken many of those promises, so I fully agree with you. It reminds me quite a bit like a Republican is in office. We are now in 3 wars, instead of two, and are still spending about as much on our military as the rest of the world combined.

[YoBear]

01:15 AM on 04/23/2011

Could be worse. They could be watching your every keypress. Check this out:
http://www.androidhelpers.com/index.php?topic=309.0

[Thumbody]

10:50 PM on 04/22/2011

Do you ever think that social networking sites also capture as much information about you as possible to be reviewed by those seeking to do so? Simple activities that we are engaged in right now like blogging and commenting? I am not referring to companies for commercial purposes but powers that be who have an interest in this information.

[Martin Thomas]

10:05 PM on 04/22/2011

All the information in that file is recorded by the phone companies anyway and the police sometimes demand access to it. That is what happens in the UK and it is probably similar in the US.

I suspect the file was originally created by an engineer or software developer. Such log files are very useful when a system is being developed or tested and can be dropped when the product is released. But someone forgot about it, maybe they even lost track of why the log file was there in the first place.

They certainly made a mistake and should be criticised, but since all that data is already in the hands of Big Brother, I find the scare story a bit silly.

[JFD8]

07:50 PM on 04/22/2011

If iPhones cannot be discreet
Then privacy's left obsolete;
For it's hard to protect
When the users project
Each movement they make in a tweet.

News Short n' Sweet by JFD8
http://twitter.com/JFD8

[sinnerG7]

07:06 PM on 04/22/2011

Shame on you Apple this sounds like something Microsoft would do.Have the tables turned?
I remember when owning an apple product meant you didn't conform to corporate mentality,
you were rebellious,even a little anti establishment ,Steve... Don't go soft on us,remenber what made your companyso great in the first place. hammerthrow that ball through screen!!

[aajer]

11:02 AM on 04/27/2011

I am afraid that ship sailed when apple iphone became the partner of AT&T. AT&T if you
will remember, was found to be willingly sharing it's customer's private information, (and
indeed,tapping it's customer's calls) with the Bush administration working closely with
the likes of Dick Chaney. It is probably safe to assume that this kind of thing is, and for all anyone knows, has been, standard operating procedure.

[Thumbody]

06:43 PM on 04/22/2011

Hi Steve tell me where I am!

[johngary66]

07:10 AM on 04/23/2011

Thumbody, your in a Eucalyptus tree in Austrailia. Come down right now, it's dinner time.