It was only a matter of time before other US government agencies requested an audience with Google and Apple following this month’s Senate hearing. The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission will be hosting a public forum in June to get explanations from Google and Apple about location-based services on iPhone and Android.
The FTC and FCC will be questioning the two companies about their privacy disclosures and how readily consumers understand the implications of using location services on smartphones. The agencies are also extending invitations to wireless company executives, consumer watchdog groups and academics to speak at the public forum. It’s a double-sided issue so it will be interesting to hear AT&T and Verizon explain their roles in location data collection.
Representatives from Google and Apple, along with Facebook, will also be testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee this Thursday for another hearing about location tracking.
