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Franken Bill Would Protect Consumers Location Data

Posted by samzenpus on from the covering-your-tracks dept.

GovTechGuy writes "Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) unveiled a new bill on Wednesday that would require firms like Apple and Google to obtain consent from consumers before collecting or sharing their smartphone location data with third parties. The bill would cover all mobile devices including tablets and require firms to inform consumers when they collect their data and allow them to delete it when requested."

9 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Um.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    The iPhone already requires user consent before apps can use location data. It's awesome when government tries to design software.

  2. Not sure why they mention Google... by Sierra+Charlie · · Score: 3, Informative

    Location sharing in Android is already opt-in, with a per-app or per-website granularity.

    1. Re:Not sure why they mention Google... by lrobert98 · · Score: 4, Informative

      But the OS itself is doing it.

  3. Re:eula by i+kan+reed · · Score: 4, Informative

    You missed the second part. You can tell them to delete your location information, and they'd be compelled by law to do so. That would definetly be different.

  4. Re:Govt.? by Jabrwock · · Score: 4, Informative
    No. The bill explicitly states that it does not affect collection of data by law enforcement, or transfer of location data to law enforcement.

    That's covered under a different bill.

    http://franken.senate.gov/files/docs/110614_The_Location_Privacy_Protection_Act_of_2011_One_pager.pdf

    --
    Magic doesn't work in my presence. My power of disbelief is too strong.
  5. About Al by JBMcB · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not to threadjack, but if we're talking about Sen. Franken...

    Al Franken reads the 4th Amendment to a justice department official defending the PATRIOT act:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A8A7hsDOAw

    Al Franken's recent vote on extending the Patriot Act (from Project VoteSmart)

    02/15/2011 Extension of Various Patriot Act Provisions HR 514 Y Bill Passed - Senate

    That Y means Yea.

    ??

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
    1. Re:About Al by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      that he voted quid for some pro quo elsewhere. That's how representative government works. It'd gridlock otherwise

      Which means votes can be bought. Either thru favors, the buddy system, or just not bothering to read the bill and looking to what the 'leaders' are doing ("lets pass this and see what we get").

      That is what you get. Vote buying. To the highest bidder. Do not tolerate it from your representatives even when you did/didnt vote for them.

  6. Re:define "collecting" by sexconker · · Score: 2, Informative

    Cache comes from the Latin cogere. To collect. A cache is a collection.
    The modern (bastardized by the French) usage of a cache adds "hidden" to the meaning.

    Apple storing location data in a specific location it knows about and consumers don't (or don't have access to / full control over) is both collecting it and hiding it.
    They may not be retrieving that information, nor may they have any intent to do so.
    But they are collecting it.

  7. Re:Great idea! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    No they don't.