iPhone Tracking Ruckus Ongoing

Trailrunner7 writes "A pair of Apple customers has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that Apple is invading their privacy by collecting location data about iPhone and iPad users without their knowledge." and theodp noted that the iPhone tracking 'Bug' is actually patent pending... which makes it harder to buy the mistake argument. As if that's not enough fun, South Korea, Italy, Germany and other countries are all looking into it.

Comments

Re:RDS astroturf for the First Post Win?

[BarryJacobsen]

I believe you are SERIOUSLY misinformed about exactly what this database is and where it is accessible

1) Any app as in any DESKTOP application on your mac that you willfully install knowing it may do this and provided your backups aren't encrypted. iFarmville (assuming the i means it's for iOS) CANNOT access this database, ever.
2) Your phone is not pre-tapped, the database cannot be accessed on the phone without hacking/jailbreaking. Further, law enforcement would have a much easier time getting the location from the cell phone companies which can give them REAL TIME data.
3) You could give me a desktop app that does this, provided I don't have my backups encrypted. You could give me an iPhone app that does this, but it will tell me that it's tracking me.
4) This would be no different from someone being hired to follow you, they can draw the same (incorrect) inferences about your habits.

Re:feature?

[CharlyFoxtrot]

What cell towers didn't do was log on the device side, a detailed record of your lat/long movements, which can then be tied to businesses, paths of travel, personal interests, spending patterns, and your daily comings and goings.

They do on their side though. For an example see here. (Thanks to FrykD for pointing this out to me in another slashdot discussion.)
God knows how they are protecting this data or who has access to it, at least I can take steps to protect my data.