FBI turns down request for info on Carrier IQ

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has denied a request regarding Carrier IQ, a piece of software found on smartphones and designed to send information on handsets to carriers.

The request, filed by reporter Michael Morisy of Muckrock News under the Freedom of Information Act, asked for “manuals, documents of other written guidance used to access or analyze data” gathered by any Carrier IQ program. In denying the request, the FBI said it had information but could not disclose it because it is considered “law enforcement records.” In other words, they’re vital to some kind of ongoing investigation. That seems to confirm fears about the program being used as spyware by the government. But before you put on your tinfoil hat, you should note— as Morisy does — that this could also mean that the FBI is investigating Carrier IQ. It’s not clear from the bureau’s language at this time, and Morisy has said he will file an appeal in an effort to obtain more information.

Carrier IQ has issued a statement denying that it has ever provided information to the FBI. “Carrier IQ has never provided any data to the FBI. If approached by a law enforcement agency, we would refer them to the network operators because the diagnostic data collected belongs to them and not Carrier IQ,” the company said.