Wireless carriers: Apps are privacy threat

The nation’s top wireless carriers have a message for Congress: Smarthphone apps — not the carriers themselves — pose the greatest threat to people’s privacy.

That’s the common thread running between a series of letters this month from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile to Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Joe Barton (R-TX). The two members in March asked those top companies to detail how and why they track mobile phone location data. But the carriers pointed to app makers as the leading cause for concern. AT&T noted it “plays no role” in what kind of information smartphone apps collect, while T-Mobile pointed out the ways in which that data can be used. Sprint lamented “consumers no longer can look to their trusted carrier with whom they have a trusted relationship to answer all of their questions,” particularly on privacy. And Verizon Wireless called out smartphone app makers directly on the issue, stressing “location-based applications and services (whether provided by us or third parties such as Google) should give customers clear and transparent notice” and control. The carriers acknowledged in their responses that they also track consumers’ location — albeit to provide the best cell reception and data services, while maintaining the records required by federal law.

Rep Barton has a feeling of "uneasiness and uncertainty" about third-party use of location data and Rep Markey is pushing for more consumer control. "This is a huge problem," said Rep Barton of third-party use of the info. "They shouldn't have free reign over your location data and personally identifiable information," he said, pledging to work on legislation to hold third-party developers accountable. Rep Markey said consumer privacy protections must apply "across the entire wireless ecosystem - from wireless carriers, to mobile handset makers, to application developers."