Regulators to Investigate Carrier IQ

Computerworld: U.S. Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) has sent an official letter asking the FTC to investigate Carrier IQ. The company made headlines last week when an app developer revealed that Carrier IQ software, which is loaded on many smartphones, can track a great deal of information about users, including keystrokes, location and text message contents. “I have serious concerns about the Carrier IQ software and whether it is secretly collecting users’ personal information, such as the content of text messages,” said Markey.

In Europe, several agencies are also looking into Carrier IQ’s practices. Germany’s Bavarian State Office for Data Protection, the U.K’s Information Commissioner’s Office and the BEUC have all taken steps too examine whether the software violates the EU’s strict data protection and privacy rules.