United States Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate reports that apps on the iOS and Android devices steal private photos and contacts and post them without prior consent.
Democrat Charles Schumer’s request comes after iPhone maker Apple tweaked its privacy policies last month after prodding from other lawmakers.
The distribution of third-party applications on iPhones and phones running on Google’s Android system has helped create a surge in the popularity of those devices in recent years.
However, Schumer said on Sunday that he was concerned about a New York Times report that iPhone and Android applications can access a user’s private photo collection.
Schumer also referred to a report last month that applications on devices such as the iPhone and iPad were able to upload entire address books with all their contact information to their own servers.
“These uses go well beyond what a reasonable user understands himself to be consenting to when he allows an app to access data on the phone for purposes of the app’s functionality,” Schumer said in a letter to the FTC.
While the lawmaker said it was his understanding that functionality such as this was a violation of the terms of service on the Apple and Android platforms, “it is not clear whether or how those terms of service are being enforced and monitored”.
As a result, he said, “smartphone makers should be required to put in place safety measures to ensure third party applications are not able to violate a user’s personal privacy by stealing photographs or data that the user did not consciously decide to make public”.
Schumer says he believes phone makers have an obligation to their customers to protect their private information and content.
“When someone takes a private photo, on a private cell phone, it should remain just that: private,” said Schumer.