Apple has weighed in on the recent data tracking controversy, clarifying their history with Carrier IQ (the mobile logging software that transmits data back to carriers). Apple issued a statement to AllThingsD saying the company stopped supporting Carrier IQ as of iOS 5 on most of its products, and will completely remove it with a future software update.
Apple stated:
We stopped supporting Carrier IQ with iOS 5 in most of our products and will remove it completely in a future software update. With any diagnostic data sent to Apple, customers must actively opt-in to share this information, and if they do, the data is sent in an anonymous and encrypted form and does not include any personal information. We never recorded keystrokes, messages or any other personal information for diagnostic data and have no plans to ever do so.
As we reported, evidence has suggested the Carrier IQ has been able to capture more information on Android devices than on iOS. This included keystrokes and other information. Carrier IQ’s usage on iOS has apparently been limited to phone call and location information, but Apple’s statement to AllThingsD suggest that Apple no longer even uses that information. They do still collect anonymous information from devices unless users have turned off the reporting functionality.
As reported here at MacTrast, U.S. Senator Al Franken has requested that Carrier IQ explain what information their software is recording and transmitting, and how that info is shared with other parties.
