Democrats call for hearing on cellphone-tracking software

Three top Democrats on the House Commerce Committee are urging the panel's Republican leaders to hold a hearing on Carrier IQ, controversial cellphone-tracking software.

"We urge you to hold a hearing as expeditiously as possible to explore the answers to questions raised by recent reports about Carrier IQ and data collection, analysis, and transmission in the mobile device market," Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) wrote in a letter. Carrier IQ's software, which is embedded in millions of smartphones, is designed to help cellphone companies track the performance of their devices. The technology collects information on the phone numbers consumers dial, the contents of their text messages, the websites they visit, their search queries and even their locations. "Data collection and transmission by Carrier lQ and similar software is widespread, and consumers appear to have little knowledge and even less control over the practice," the lawmakers wrote.