The Carrier IQ Privacy issue continues today with a new, albeit not a really surprising, episode. Apparently the FBI was aware of what the Carrier IQ technology is able to do, and the Bureau is not willing to reveal anything regarding Carrier IQ just yet. Whereas, The FBI denies the release of information about their use of Carrier IQ, Wikipedia founder asks for input about a site-wide blackout, and the Kindle Fire will get a pre-Christmas software update to improve performance.
Government watchdog site MuckRock believes Carrier IQ data is being used by the FBI in an investigation. If so, the worries over Carrier IQ will rise up again. Carrier IQ is installed in about 150 million handsets globally, according to the company. MuckRock sent an Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI, asking for “manuals, documents or other written guidance used to access or analyze data gathered by programs developed or deployed by Carrier IQ.” That FOIA request was met with what MuckRock called a “telling denial.”
The very first page of the denial letter specifically states that the information they have in the exempt file is for law enforcement purposes and that they cannot release information that will jeopardize any ongoing investigation.
Carrier IQ and several wireless carriers and handset makers have admitted to installing the software in handsets, but insist the software is benign and designed primarily to collect data for optimizing network and device performance. Critics of Carrier IQ’s software, who include Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, have claimed the software enables keylogging and extensive data capture.
Hopefully future investigations into Carrier IQ practices will offer us more details about the way Carrier IQ data was used by the FBI, if that’s the case, and we’re certainly interested to see what various U.S. and international officials will have to say about the FBI’s proven involvement with this matter.
In the meantime, if you wish not to be monitored by corporations and the government, we politely remind you to stay off the Internet, stop using all proprietary software and hardware, disconnect your cell phone and land line immediately, and ensure a snug fit on your tin foil helmet.
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