Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) wants answers. Security researchers Wednesday revealed the existence of a file on iPhones and on their computer backups that logs detailed cell phone triangulation data — and has ever since iOS 4 was released last summer. The information is stored unencrypted by default, and is simple to access. That announcement led Franken to fire off a two-page letter (PDF), asking nine pointed questions of Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
Franken first outlines scenarios in which the release of this data could pose a problem. “Anyone who gains access to this single file could likely determine the location of the user’s home, the businesses he frequents, the doctors he visits, the schools his children attend, and the trips he has taken over the past months or even a year,” he writes. Which raises the obvious question: how would an attacker get access to the data?
1. Why does Apple collect and compile this location data? Why did Apple choose to initiate tracking this data in its iOS 4 operating system?
2. Does Apple collect and compile this location data for laptops?
3. How is this data generated? (GPS, cell tower triangulation, Wi-Fi triangulation, etc.)
4. How frequently is a user’s location recorded? What triggers the creation of a record of someone’s location?
5. How precise is this location data? Can it track the users location to 50 m, 100 m, etc.?
6. Why is this data not encrypted? What steps will Apple take to encrypt the data?
7. Why were Apple consumers never affirmatively informed of the collection and retention of their location data in this manner? Why did Apple not seek affirmative consent before doing so?
8. Does Apple believe that this conduct is permissible under the terms of its privacy policy?
9. To whom, if anyone, including Apple, has this data been disclosed? When and why were these disclosures made?
I like Al Franken. As for Apple and today’s rating as least environmentally friendly status, wait, that can’t be true, since Al Gore is on Apple’s Board of Directors. So why do Liberals love this company so much?
I wonder if Apple put this in to monitor it’s employees. They sync up their phones with the company computer and Apple has access. You called in sick, but your data shows you were in Lake Tahoe?
Look at that photo – Al Franken is so annoying he even gives himself a headache.
So, uh, none of you know how Find My Mac works to retrieve lost or stolen iPhones. Must be faerie dust messengers.
Silly me. What was I thinking? If you’re using a cheapo phone that’s not worth stealing, you needn’t worry.
Har.
Ahh Greenpeace, still trying to be relevant.
My guess is that perfectly legal and innocent location based marketing has driven this. I doubt that Apple meant any deliberate sinister intent, other than stalking iPhone users and secretly selling their private information to the highest paying sack of dour.
Why is it the business of a Senator to make businessmen come and answer his questions? Or for that matter, baseball players?
Geeze, this is NOT new. It’s been known about for quite some time. Just because some lousy news organization decided to report it. It was more than likely a slow tech news day, so the tech reporter at CBS decided to report this. This has been around since iOS 3.2 was introduced. It’s a plain text file that is stored on the person’s device, and backed up on their computer, when the device is synced.
More outrage on this here: http://dslreports.com/shownews/iPhone-Location-File-Not-New-Not-Secret-113850
@#7 “My guess is that perfectly legal and innocent location based marketing has driven this” – What is perfectly legal? It is MY device for which I paid and non-Apple service for which, again I have paid. What right on Earth does Apple have to use MY device and MY service without MY consent to collect any kind of data. Security hole is just additional reckless point. The very root of the problem is assumption by Apple (and many others) that somehow just because they have produced the device, it is theirs to use as they see fit even when we pay for it. That is unacceptable. Apple wants that data? – Fine -offer opt-in and if no one opts-in… offer monetary incentive. I’d agree for this data to be collected from me … at 50$ monthly payment from Apple.
@#9 “It’s a plain text file that is stored on the person’s device, and backed up on their computer, when the device is synced. ” – that is how far we can tell and how far Apple would say. Remember that iOS is closed software. What other files that are not exposed by security hole do they keep on users? Even this particular file – we can’t tell if it is encrypted and sent back to Apple every few seconds… We simply can’t know. Anger is there because this is indeed the top of the iceberg and people are feeling it. Any collection of any data without explicit and simple opt-in by the owner of device must be banned and if discovered – criticized to no end. Or we are just slave sheep.
@ #8, Seriously? You seriously don’t know why a lawmaker would ask questions? I once felt alfie was the dullest knife in the drawer, you, with this act of dogmatic anti-think have challenged his title…..lol Kudos.
Al is my hero. It would almost be worth moving to MN to have him as my Senator. As it is, having Cornyn and Hutchinson as my Senators is a continual embarrassment. Give me politicans with brains instead of ideologies.
Dang, I was disappointed that the map app that opens it only works on Macs, that would be cool to see.
Doesn’t he have anything better to do??
Like demand answers to:
Why is gas so expensive when there is a glut of oil on the market?
Why is the US going to loose it’s AAA credit rating and who is responsible?
Why is unemployment still so high after TRILLIONS of dollars spent?
Why did BATFE encourage guns to cross into Mexico?
Oh wait! I forgot Franken is a Dem. Beat up on the evil businessman. Don’t ask questions you don’t want to hear the answer to.
It’s a non-story. It caches the lat-lon of the cell towers it has been in contact with so that it doesn’t have to query that from the phone company every time you switch cell.
Even more bizarrely an uninformed politician is prepared to jump on the band wagon and make a big thing out of this in order to get on TV – who would have thought it
It’s just Al trying to get some relevance!
On the other hand, being able to read where a person has been during a police stop could be useful to the Nanny State.
“Since 2008, the ACLU of Michigan has been petitioning the Michigan State Police to turn over information about their use of so-called “data extraction devices” the devices can connect to cellphones and, even bypassing passwords, retrieve phone numbers, text messages, call history, photos and video.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/michigan-police-cellphone-data-extraction-devices-aclu-objects/comments?type=story&id=13428178
Lastly, to me this all makes a very good reason to use a crappy $10 phone which has no features except to make a phone call.
Who would of guessed?? Using a phone to make a phone call!
Franken for President, and Lewis Black for Secretary of State.
Trump for President, Frankin for Secretary of Commerce. And Sheen for Secretary of Education.
How do these tv personalities end up so relevant?
Let me guess. Franken owns an iPhone. And an iPad. Naturally he does, since he is so trendy and hip. Furthermore, he doesn’t want anyone to know where he has been, ever. Ever ever.
#11, I don’t think Senators should be encouraged in this browbeating of private citizens. Just because some people are worried about drugs in baseball, doesn’t mean they should call up ballplayers, and make them answer questions under oath, that they could never get asked by a jury, since the prosecution has no evidence. But hey, the public wants to know.
Internal surveillance system? hmmm good thing It’s not part of the GOP road to fascism when Apple does it.
Some good questions and some silly questions Al but shouldn’t the market be asking these questions not a Senator? If you were asking as just a celebrity Apple customer that should be enough to get the facts out. Now get busy explaining why the Teaparty is nuts to not increase the debt ceiling and let the scorn of the internet take care of this one we can handle it.
Al is going to be really upset when he finds out that his browser keeps a history of his web use.
#22 You wouldn’t want an amiable old ex B-movie actor to be President?
“That announcement led Franken to fire off a two-page letter (PDF), asking nine pointed questions of Apple CEO Steve Jobs.”
There are actually 15 questions. I just have one…
Which ones aren’t pointed?
1. Ruger LCR said, on April 21st, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Trump for President, Frankin for Secretary of Commerce. And Sheen for Secretary of Education.
How do these tv personalities end up so relevant? ///// You ask this in a post about Al Franken?
2. #10–dusanmal==you say: “What right on Earth does Apple have to use MY device and MY service without MY consent to collect any kind of data.” /// Absolutely right. IF there was any consumer protection/rights in the USA all such services would be mandatory opt in requirement after clear informed consent and a statement on how/when the info would be used. The lack of same is just one wrinkle in living in a society ruled by/for corporations.
Similarly, it should be ILLEGAL to sell any consumer product that requires a batter not to have that battery replaced by standard off the shelf units by the consumer. The fact that Apple doesn’t do this, all consumers want it, shows the lack of a “free market” to actually work. It only works “sometimes” on some issues. We need BIG NANNY STATE GOVERNMENT to balance the excess of power represented by large corps.
Just look.
Al can demand all he wants. Its his right.
However, he may find out that Steve Jobs doesn’t know all the nit-picky details about the iPhone, (not to mention the iPod Touch and I would presume the iPad as well).
Apple records who bought every piece of equipment that has been shipped by Apple.
Back when they made only computers, it was tougher. It required storage space and that cost money, even off-line storage space.
Now that they push most of their stuff through the Apple Store, the Apple Music Store and that everything else requires carrier activation, its a lot easier. They have all of the consumer’s data right from the start.
Actually, it may be something that the carrier, two carriers now, imposed on Apple. It may even have been imposed on the carriers by the NSA. (You do know about the NSA’s constant monitoring of international calls and about Echelon…)
#29. “However, he may find out that Steve Jobs doesn’t know all the nit-picky details about the iPhone, (not to mention the iPod Touch and I would presume the iPad as well).”
If you believe that, you know nothing about Jobs. He micro manages everything.
More to the point, Jobs is an official within Apple and is expected/required to find the answers to any question he doesn’t have personal knowledge of. The letter will be answered by lawyers working with the Apple “Team” with as much involvement of Jobs as Jobs decides to give. His only real job is to direct the team and sign the letter.
Its all about the corporation and within it Jobs is but one cog. OK, maybe a hub.
#8 MikeN said, “Why is it the business of a Senator to make businessmen come and answer his questions? Or for that matter, baseball players?”
Why is it the business of government to act as enforcer of business interests such as the record and movie companies? Why is it the business of government to topple foreign governments and start wars so businesses can profit from them? And so on and so on?
Given all that, asking a business why it is doing potentially harmful and illegal things is something you feel is wrong? I guess you are like Alfred who doesn’t want government interfering with anything a business does, no matter how heinous.
While I’d rather Senators go after the big criminals like the banks, no business should be immune from scrutiny.
#3 keaneo – Doesn’t Find My Mac use current data?
#15 Nobody – Are you referring to soft and hard handoffs? The cell company knows where the next closest cell towers are.