Verizon plans to put a removable warning sticker on its handsets to inform users that the devices can be used to track their location, the company said in a letter to Congress released Thursday.
The four largest wireless carriers in the U.S. explained in recently released letters to Congress how they collect and store their subscribers' location data. Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA all said they do not sell the data they collect and that they make all efforts to secure it.
A sample of Verizon's proposed warning sticker read: "This device is capable of determining its (and your) physical and geographical location and can associate this location data with other customer information. To limit access to location information by others, refer to the user guide for Location settings and be cautious when downloading, accessing, or using applications and services."
Verizon noted in its letter that it keeps user's location details and other data for seven years but said it only provides such information to law enforcement when legally requested. The carrier said it does track user habits for internal marketing purposes and collects the location data for "various service and operational purposes."
The collection and storage of user location data on cellphones and other mobile devices has caused a national furor in the last week following the publicizing of a hidden location tracking file on Apple's iPhones by a pair of researchers.
It later came to light that Google was conducting similar location tracking on devices running its Android mobile operating system. Both Apple and Google admitted to tracking users' whereabouts for the purpose of providing location-based services and promised to make changes to allow customers to opt out of the tracking more easily.
But the controversy has incensed privacy advocates and attracted the attention of Congress. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and other lawmakers have demanded to know how location tracking is used on tablets, smartphones and other devices.
But even prior to the media firestorm over Apple and Google, however, legislators had already requested that the big four carriers identify the user data they were collecting, including location data, and how they were using it. Reps. Markey and Joe Barton (R-Texas), co-chairman of the Congressional Bipartisan Privacy Caucus, asked the four companies to supply that information in March.
In those responses, the carriers said they obtain consent from their subscribers before tracking their whereabouts. But the companies also complained that third-party application vendors can also use location tracking data and it's out of the carriers' control.
"While I am happy to hear that carriers inform their customers of the risks of using independent third-party applications, third-party developers can access the location of customers anytime they want," Barton said, according to reports.
"I believe it is time we hold third-party developers accountable, and I am determined to work with other members of Congress to get this done."
The carriers' letters to Congress are available from Rep. Markey's office in PDF form. Following are links to the Verizon Wireless letter, the AT&T Mobility letter, the Sprint Nextel letter and the T-Mobile USA letter.
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