Geotracking controversy homes in on iPhone (roundup)

Apple has come under fire following a researcher's report that iOS version 4 software for the iPad and iPhone stores users' location data.

Apple pays $945 to settle iPhone tracking suit in Korea

Apple's South Korea unit pays up following the revelation that the company's iOS-based devices were inadvertently tracking user locations.
(Posted in The Digital Home by Don Reisinger)
July 14, 2011 6:39 AM PDT

Senators press Apple, Google on location privacy

Apple and Google return to Capitol Hill to defend themselves against accusations from politicians who say companies aren't doing enough to protect their customers' location privacy.
• DOJ wants wireless providers to store user info
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
May 19, 2011 11:26 AM PDT

Apple responds to Rep. Markey on location

Apple has responded to a letter from U.S. Congressman Edward Markey about what it does with location data from iOS devices. While much of it is a rehash of the Q&A, Apple says there's an unnamed third-party that's getting some of the data.
(Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn)
May 10, 2011 10:12 AM PDT

Congressman wants FTC probe of iPhone tracking

Apple's explanation for location tracking, and promise of a fix, doesn't satisfy Rep. Jay Inslee, who still wants a Federal Trade Commission investigation, CNET has learned.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
April 28, 2011 4:00 AM PDT

Apple: We'll fix iPhone tracking 'bug'

The iPhone maker breaks its silence and says an iOS update coming soon will address a location-tracking furor involving a "crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database."
• Jobs, Apple execs discuss iPhones and location (Q&A)
• The white iPhone arrives tomorrow--finally!
(Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)
April 27, 2011 6:24 AM PDT

Privacy panic debate: Whose data is it?

commentary The recent privacy scare over Apple's undisclosed iPhone location file has brought out the worst in the on-going data debate. But let's get some perspective on how data is used and stored.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Larry Downes)
April 27, 2011 4:00 AM PDT

Microsoft collects locations of Windows phone users

Windows Phone 7 transmits a "unique device ID" to Microsoft with GPS-derived location data, similar to Google and Apple. But no location history is stored on the phone.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
April 25, 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Apple sued over location tracking in iOS

A pair of individuals are suing Apple for tracking user information on its devices, saying the company should have done a better job of disclosing the practice, as well as offering a way to turn it off.
(Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn)
April 25, 2011 5:12 PM PDT

AG wants answers on tracking from Apple, Google

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants to know what both companies are doing with location information and why there's not a way to turn it off.
(Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn)
April 25, 2011 1:41 PM PDT

Alleged Jobs e-mail says tracking claims are 'false'

In an alleged e-mail from Apple CEO Steve Jobs to a reader, the CEO says the company is not tracking user location, and that claims otherwise are "false."
(Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn)
April 25, 2011 10:53 AM PDT

Android data tied to users? Some say yes

Google says its collection of location information from Android devices isn't "traceable" to a particular individual, a narrow claim that's already attracting criticism.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
April 22, 2011 7:08 PM PDT

Ask Maggie: iPhone 5 rumors and iPhone-tracking woes

In this week's column, a roundup of the latest rumors on the much-anticipated iPhone 5 and some perspective on recent privacy concerns related to the iPhone.
(Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)
April 22, 2011 2:36 PM PDT

Lawmakers demand answers from Apple on iPhone tracking

Rep. Ed Markey is the latest politician on Capitol Hill to ask Apple for answers over a report that says the company's iOS software keeps track of users' location.
(Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)
April 21, 2011 2:07 PM PDT

How police have obtained iPhone, iPad tracking logs

It's no secret to police investigators that the Apple iPhone keeps track of its owners' approximate location. And Android devices appear to do the same as well.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
April 21, 2011 11:59 PM PDT

Your iPhone's watching you. Should you care?

faq Apple has been found to be keeping a log of information on user whereabouts that is freely available for others who get their hands on the data. CNET finds out what data is stored, what devices are affected, and whether you can turn it off.
(Posted in Apple by Josh Lowensohn and Elinor Mills)
April 20, 2011 6:41 PM PDT

Researcher: iPhone, iPad track users' whereabouts

Authors of O'Reilly Radar story are speaking at the Where 2.0 conference about location-tracking information they have found in iPhones and 3G-capable iPads that are running iOS 4.
(Posted in The Digital Home by Don Reisinger)
April 20, 2011 9:44 AM PDT

related coverage

Congressmen push for location tracking disclosure

In move that could influence the future of location privacy laws, two congressmen are asking for responses from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
April 1, 2011 5:00 PM PDT

Sen. Ron Wyden: Protecting mobile privacy

q&a CNET speaks with Ron Wyden, Democratic senator from Oregon, about his proposal to require police to obtain search warrants before monitoring your whereabouts.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
February 2, 2011 4:00 AM PST

Court allows warrantless cell location tracking

Philadelphia appeals court rules that no search warrant is needed for police to track Americans' cell phone whereabouts but says individual judges can "sparingly" require one.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
September 7, 2010 1:44 PM PDT

Feds push for tracking cell phones

Justice Department is expected to tell federal appeals court, in first case of its kind, that no warrant is required to obtain previous location data.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
February 11, 2010 4:00 AM PST