Badges - Re: Privacy info
- From: Charles Rahn <c.t.rahn@xxxxxxxx>
- To: Badges 1Badge <badges@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:49:31 -0400
Trying again..... Don't know what happened the 1st or 2nd time.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO RE-POST
As a follow-up to ISPLA's Hitting the Hill last week in DC regarding "Do Not
Track" legislation, there seems to be no cessation of reported incidents which
will tend to flame the legislative fires over privacy concerns. A press release
from Rep. Edward J. Markey [D-MA-7] reveals one more issue which not only
concerns Apple, but Google as well. Rep. Markey is no stranger to ISPLA's
legislative focus and has often been a strong adversary. He is aligned with
privacy advocates and if he had his way we doubt professional investigators
would have any means available to them to investigate the background of the
subjects of our investigations.
On April 21, Congressman Markey, a senior member of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee and co-Chairman of the House Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus,
sent a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs asking him about Apple’s data collection,
storage and disclosure practices. He referred to a recent The Guardian story
entitled, "iPhone Keeps Record of Everywhere You Go", reported that Apple’s iOS
4 operating system collects customers’ location data, stores it on the user's
iPhone and iPad, backs it up when synched with another device, and could leave
it unprotected. In particular, the letter asks the company about compliance
with Section 222 of the Communications Act, a provision that Rep. Markey
authored, that requires companies to get express authorization from their
customers for use, disclosure or access to location information for commercial
purposes.
"Apple needs to safeguard the personal location information of its users to
ensure that an iPhone doesn't become an iTrack," said Rep. Markey. "Collecting,
storing and disclosing a consumer's location for commercial purposes without
their express permission is unacceptable and would violate current law. That's
why I am requesting responses to these questions to better understand Apple’s
data collection and storage policies to make certain sensitive information
can't be left behind for others to follow."
In his letter, Rep. Markey asked Apple to respond to questions that include:
Is it accurate that Apple iPhone keeps track of where iPhone users go, saving
this information to a file on the device that is then copied to the owner's
computer when the two are synchronized?
Did Apple intentionally develop this functionality in order to log the
locations of users?
How does Apple collect this customer location information?
Does Apple use this information for any purpose?
Has Apple used this location information for any commercial purpose?
Is it possible for customers to disable this feature?
Given the widespread usage of iPhones and iPads by individuals under the age of
18, is Apple concerned that the wide array of precise location data logged by
these devices can be used to track minors, exposing them to potential harm?
This issue was been picked up by the American print media today, including The
Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. We expect that Congress will not waste
much time bringing this issue before a committee hearing.
A copy of Rep. Markey's letter to Apple can be found at:
http://markey.house.gov/apple_ios_letter_04.21.11.pdf
Rep. Markey has requested Apple respond to him by May 12.
The Badges Law Enforcement Discussion Group - Est. 1997
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