Federal Lawmakers Questioning Steve Jobs Regarding Location Data Collection

[MacRumors]

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times reported on an update to Apple's privacy policy which indicates that Apple may collect "precise," "real-time geographic location" data for users of its products and share that data with unspecified "partners and licensees" in order to improve services and advertising.

The policy has apparently caught the attention of federal lawmakers, as The Washington Post reports that a pair of congressmen, Edward Markey and Joe Barton, have written a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs requesting additional information on the company's practices.

The lawmakers said they were concerned that users appeared to automatically be included in Apple's gathering of geographic data unless they actively opt out of having information collected about them.

"Given the limited ability of Apple users to opt out of the revised policy and still be able to take advantage of the features of their Apple products, we are concerned about the impact the collection of such data could have on the privacy of Apple's customers," the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

The report cites a series of nine questions being asked of Jobs by the lawmakers, who are seeking clarification of the rationale behind the policy and details on what products and which users are subject to the collection, as well as what partners Apple is sharing the data with, what it plans to do with the data, and how user anonymity is being preserved. The congressmen have requested a response from Jobs by July 12th.

Article Link: Federal Lawmakers Questioning Steve Jobs Regarding Location Data Collection

 

[the-oz-man]

Big brother's bigger brother.

 

[Grimace]

Never saw this one coming 🙄

Still, it is a valid point. It only takes one hacked corporate account [cough*AT&T] and privacy issues become serious.

 

[Trojita]

Never saw this one coming 🙄

Still, it is a valid point. It only takes one hacked corporate account [cough*AT&T] and privacy issues become serious.

Or you know....shaing that data with unspecified "partners and licensees".

 

[Man-Droid]

Glad to see that this is at least being questioned. I really don't like the whole location data thing. IMHO it is unnecessary.

 

[bahooki]

Good, go after Apple as hard as it's fanboys want them to go after Google. Fair is fair.

 

[alakazzam]

Glad to see that this is at least being questioned. I really don't like the whole location data thing. IMHO it is unnecessary.

Indeed. This whole thing was a little too sketchy for me and I'm happy to see it coming under question.

 

[TXCraig]

Joe Barton?

Isn't Joe Barton to busy apologizing to BP for the government's victim fund?

 

[Carbonadam]

Here is what I'd say...

F. U. Is what her should say. Reminds me of Repo Man when the store owner comes over to Otto an tells him he isn't spacing the cans correctly. This is what these nimrods are spending my dime doing with their time. Ugh!

 

[Lopes]

I thought that asshat barton would apologize to apple for the american people being upset about this.

 

[Veri]

And before anyone says, "But the app requests permission to use location information!" ask yourself this: If I ask to borrow your lawnmower, would you assume that I'm asking for it today / this weekend, or every 15 minutes for the next 3 months? Which does Apple assume?

 

[rsocal]

Give me a break

Do they really think Apple is going to use this info for some kind of wrong doing, come guys I don't think Steve Jobs is into being a criminal. All the info will be used for is making great Hardware & Software better and of course the next big thing that we will love to play with. Seems like the feds are always looking into Apple's business, when you are on top they always want to bring you down.
Go ahead and take my info as I'm sure it will just make my Apple stuff perform better as usual!!!
GO STEVE!!!

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

They're probably a couple of lawmakers who are having affairs.

 

[Nocaster]

Joe Barton? He owes Steve Jobs an apology! This is a tragedy of the first order.

 

[Veri]

Do they really think Apple is going to use this info for some kind of wrong doing, come guys I don't think Steve Jobs is into being a criminal.

Obvious etc., 5/10. +"steve jobs" +"blue box". Stealing telephone service was what put him on the road to entrepreneurship. Of course, it's very rare to find a great businessman who didn't skirt the system before becoming the system.

And this is about what third parties do with info, not Apple.

 

[madmax_2069]

They're probably a couple of lawmakers who are having affairs.

LMAO, with each other ewwww.

 

[fleshman03]

Do they really think Apple is going to use this info for some kind of wrong doing, come guys I don't think Steve Jobs is into being a criminal. All the info will be used for is making great Hardware & Software better and of course the next big thing that we will love to play with. Seems like the feds are always looking into Apple's business, when you are on top they always want to bring you down.
Go ahead and take my info as I'm sure it will just make my Apple stuff perform better as usual!!!
GO STEVE!!!

It'll be used for Apple to generate more revenue. You think that business you are diving by wouldn't pay top dollar to have their ad displayed on your phone?

I have a big issue with Apple collecting data from my phone without my knowledge. If I'm asked if an App can collect my geolocational data to provide a service, fine. Apple doing for "testing" or another reason is not ok.

I am not paying top dollar for hardware and software to be a beta tester.
I am not paying top dollar for hardware and software to be spied upon.

Apple needs to realize that when we buy a phone, it is not longer their hardware. It is ours.

 

[atomicbatteries]

can we get him to fix the antenna issue first?

 

[rsocal]

Ha Ha

They're probably a couple of lawmakers who are having affairs.

That would probably be true usually is the case!!!

 

[Laird Knox]

Isn't Joe Barton to busy apologizing to BP for the government's victim fund?

He needed a cause to champion so people would forget that. Apple is getting almost as much press as the Gulf so this is perfect. 🙄

 

[BoMo]

Limited ability? How hard is typing oo.apple.com? Even without swype, it only took me a second or two.

 

[Rookwood]

Glad to see that this is at least being questioned. I really don't like the whole location data thing. IMHO it is unnecessary.

If you don't like the whole thing, doesn't turning off "Location Services" in the Settings give you that option. Once off, there should be no data for anyone to collect. (It would certainly be interesting to learn if data was still being collected even with this option set "off.")

 

[rjohnstone]

Do they really think Apple is going to use this info for some kind of wrong doing, come guys I don't think Steve Jobs is into being a criminal. All the info will be used for is making great Hardware & Software better and of course the next big thing that we will love to play with. Seems like the feds are always looking into Apple's business, when you are on top they always want to bring you down.
Go ahead and take my info as I'm sure it will just make my Apple stuff perform better as usual!!!
GO STEVE!!!

Quit being a fanboy for 5 seconds and smell the reality.
The same argument was made by Google and everyone wanted their balls in a sling over their data collection.
The fact is none of us know what is being collected, who will see it and how will it be used.
And the biggie of them all... how is the data being protected?
I find it a bit disturbing.

 

[objc]

Fanboy response:
I wish Apple would collect MORE of my data. Also, they can have my children as free labor for iPhone assembly if it means I can get the new one sooner.
EDIT: Oh man, they beat me to it!

 

[RobNYC]

Isn't Joe Barton to busy apologizing to BP for the government's victim fund?

Maybe he want's Steve Jobs to apologize to BP too.