Smartphone ‘Spy’ Program Denies Giving Info to FBI — But Do Cell Providers?
- Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:05am by
Liz Klimas
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Yesterday, we reported that the FBI denied a FOIA request on the grounds that releasing the information it had about Carrier IQ, a smartphone diagnostic tracking program, could jeopardize ongoing investigations. In doing so, the agency may have revealed that it somehow obtains and uses information being tracked by the program, which was revealed as secretly installed on millions of smartphones in recent months.
Although the FBI hasn’t issued a statement over whether or not it uses the type of information collected by Carrier IQ, the software company itself has come out to say it doesn’t provide said content to the agency. The Wall Street Journal has more:
Carrier IQ has never provided any data to the FBI. If approached by a law enforcement agency, we would refer them to the network operators because the diagnostic data collected belongs to them and not Carrier IQ.
Carrier IQs data is not designed to address the special needs of law enforcement. The diagnostic data that we capture is mostly historical and won’t reveal where somebody is and what they are doing on a real-time basis.
Still, that doesn‘t mean the FBI isn’t getting its hands on the information collected from the smartphone provider that subscribes to the program. The Wall Street Journal notes that in an interview with with AllThingD’s John Paczkowski, Carrier IQ said it would refer law enforcement to the provider if information was requested:
You say you are not permitted to analyze, resell or reuse any of the information gathered for your own purposes, or to pass it to any third party, unless required by law. Do you know if law enforcement uses Carrier IQ data, and in what manner?
Lenhart: We have been approached by law enforcement about using our technology, and every time it’s happened, we’ve determined that that’s not an appropriate use of it. A lot of data that we capture is historical, so if you really want to find out where somebody is and what they’re doing, our technology isn’t going to give you that. Remember, this is diagnostic data. And we don’t share it with anyone.
But you do say that you would hand over data if required by law.
Lenhart: We would refer them to the carriers, because the diagnostic data collected belongs to the network operators, not Carrier IQ.
Currently, under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, law enforcement can obtain digital information, including email and cellphone records, without a warrant. It is unclear whether the metrics carriers can receive from the Carrier IQ program — which the company has said includes battery life and dropped calls — would be included under that law.
Carrier IQ admitted recently that due to a bug in its program, some unintentional tracking of text messages could have taken place. It is an issue the company is resolving.
[H/T Gizmodo]
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stefon
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:07amwell i just was looking at the blaze and what pops up in a screen well the exact last four items i was looking to buy, how did this happen you are all freaks and would sell your children if you had a buyer thanks for standing for something i guess money is what you stand for
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 5:19pmI don’t get it why are people so addicted to these phones I use a pay as you go phone an old RAZOR maybe one or two times a month that’s all I don’t need all the fancy crap all this can be done at home on your computer and safer that your mobile phone.
My go phone bill is $80 a year.
We have all been brainwashed by the fancy ads that we need these fancy phones and pay through the nose for the privilege of owning one. I say why?
Report Post »Exiled
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:53pmI have two phones. l $100 a year for both of them combined. I can’t think of anything so important that I would need to be able to look it up online while I was away from home or work. I don’t need any games to distract me from real life. I enjoy life – not games that don’t even require half an imagination.
Report Post »guido.cavalcanti
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:04pmThank you George W. Bush for the Patriot Act! The FBI is making us all so much safer now that they can track the GPS movement of law abiding American citizens without a warrant. Now they know every time I go the the grocery store, or when I’m home, or when I visit a friend and where they live, all just to make me safer! Who’s looking out for you? Does anyone else find this entirely creepy? If so, are there any Republican Presidential candidates who support the repeal of these powers the fed. govt. currently has? Ron Paul looking any better now?
Report Post »Exiled
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:55pmDon’t kid yourself. Nobody cares (especially the government) when you go to the grocery store. We also have spy satellites. Are you under the impression they hover over your town and are constantly taking pictures of you? Talk about self-centered.
Report Post »DeVain
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:41pmApple says the only device they have with it is iPHONE 4, nothing else does.
It is on all androids. Android is Google. Coincidence?
They seem to have found something somewhat common, make us somewhat dependent to have it close at all times, and us it to monitor people and their activity. Just add PROMIS and it almost Skynet/Big Brother. Scary stuff.
Report Post »408 CheyTac
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 12:19amyou are wrong. your statement is typical of the uninformed masses blabbering on.
Report Post »Not all android phones have it. there are a few apps that will check for it, or you can use a rooted phone, and open source project version.
Exiled
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:56pmOr you could just not buy one of those phones.
Report Post »Problem solved.
ldpeters
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:31pmJust a question…….It occurs to me that one of the issues that the Americans rebelled about during the Revolutuionary War was the ‘housing the miltary’ in their personal homes and residences……………..IE. Invasion of privacy………….Is it possible that, as Glenn so aptly opines in his new book, we DO need more George Washingtons?????
Report Post »OneOneOne
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:15pmPrivacy you have none especially if you rent. People can also embark on using your computer when you are away from home I suggest you lock that up too. Trouble with the snow these days, they leave footprints.
Report Post »objectivetruth
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:42pmOnly if you let them [family members household members]or you haven’t locked down your wireless connection.Personally I don’t like wireless.Its the most insecure platform there is.I don’t trust it never have and never will.
Report Post »jado1981
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:14pmI try to tell my wireless that it is good enough for me, and I give it complements daily… I‘m working on it’s insecurity, but I think you might be talking about wireless being unsecured. I just had to poke a little fun.
There are somethings to do to slow down the process of your wireless being used, use MAC filtering, hide the SSID, use WPA2 authentication, make your password a crazy mix of $ym801$ and num8ers, and lastly, turn the wireless transmitting power down low. Of course the good hackers out there can still get through all of that, but the average pimple faced kid with a computer will leave you alone.
Report Post »c0mm0nsense
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:13pmthe Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Patriot Act, National Defense Authorization Act. Funny how they all sound American, but all seem to strip you of your Freedoms and Liberties.
Report Post »Publius Novus
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 5:16pmWell said. They’ve been doing this for years w/ the ISP’s. How else do you think they can catch these so called lone wolves before the can consummate their plans?
Report Post »beps
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:09pmYes, AT&T is under government contract.
Report Post »smallbutloud
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:33pmThat’s why I no longer have AT&T!!!
Report Post »Grace1798
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:49amI have a cell phone. I complained to Verizon because all we want is a phone to call kids with NO TEXTING at all. No INTERNET….I am on the **** computer all day at work, why do I want more of it? I have more important things to do like be active, spend time with those we love. I also just want the phone in case of emergencies. THAT IS ALL! I took driver’s training class in High School back in the 60s. We learned to keep our eyes on the road at all times. I have been driving this way for a long time and will continue to be a safe driver. But I see people every day never use their turn signals and I have no clue where the %*%* they are going! Then they’ll be going one way and completely dart another way with no warning. I swear they must be on drugs or something. They are certainly NOT SAFE drivers and cannot be trusted. There are old people who are just as dangerous and not careful at all and that scares me too. They should know better at their age.
Report Post »stool
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 12:09pmMy phone makes a weird ringing sound and when I press a button a voice comes from within the phone to my ears.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:41amThe FBI USA the same standards as Islamists. It’s ok to lie to the American People to further your agenda.
Report Post »Chris2
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:26amCarrier IQ has actually been very forthright. The EFF has launched an investigation over this and they have been nothing but co-operative. Apparently they are correct when they say that they don’t hand over information to the government.
That only leaves cell carriers.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:36amHow come government is “allowed” to spy on us? The Constitution limits what the government is NOT allowed to do, so why does our government get away with it? I don’t mind (well I do, just not as much) companies doing stuff like this for marketing purposes. However, when they give this information to the government, that’s when I am concerned.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:20amUp until 3 years ago, I lived in ignorant bliss believing the government is on our side. Now I know better.. I don’t believe a single word these lying weasels say. They are evil and evil is not known to be honest and forthright. There will be a time when I will turn my cell phone off completely but not just yet. Until then I am rooted,and off stock ROM.
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:35amUntil you realize that after market ROMs such as CM7 are being built by FBI and DHS contractors…
Not saying they are… Also not saying they are not. Just saying one day that may be something that turns out to be true. Fact is, unless you built it yourself from the ground up (that includes with no help from Google pre-supplied code) you simply do not know what’s lurking in your 3rd party ROMs.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:37amKevin, you do have a point.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:20amDoes this make sense: if someone can do something really, really wrong then doesn’t it seem they can do something just plainly wrong?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:16amWell of course they deny it. They violated people’s rights of privacy, how much easier is it to deny? Uh Duh!
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