Zack Whittaker

Google also monitored iPhone usage with an app that collected data through Apple's back door

It looks like Facebook was not the only one abusing Apple’s system for distributing employee-only apps to sidestep the App Store and collect extensive data on users. Google has been running an app called Screenwise Meter, which bears a strong resemblance to the app distributed by Facebook Research that has now been barred by Apple. In its app, Google invites users aged 18 and up (or 13 if part of a family group) to download the app by way of a special code and registration process using an Enterprise Certificate.

Many US companies failing to uphold EU privacy rules, privacy group claims in FTC complaint

At least thirty US companies are "failing to provide" safeguards for European citizens promised by the US government, a new complaint alleges.

A filing submitted to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) claims Salesforce, Adobe, AOL, and other companies are "compiling, using, and sharing EU consumers' personal information without their awareness and meaningful consent, in violation the Safe Harbor framework."

The US-EU Safe Harbor regulations allow European data, which is generally not allowed to leave the continent, to enter and reside on US servers so long as the same strong data protection and privacy rules are adhered to.