VoIP Call Recording

Apple (News - Alert) got into some hot water months ago when users learned that software in the phone keeps a log of where users are at any given moment. Android, iOS and Blackberry users are getting a similar shock now as Carrier IQ, a company that provides mobile service intelligence solutions, is being accused of capturing smartphone users’ activities. Some assert that it has also participated in VoIP call recording.

A recent Talking Points Memo blog highlighted the accusations, pinpointing the serious privacy issues that arise. Videos showing a users proof of Carrier IQ’s tracking are lighting up on YouTube (News - Alert) and creating a viral panic of sorts. One video featuring the application on an HTC (News - Alert) phone has more than 1.6 million views as of the beginning of December.

Carrier IQ has denied that it is snooping on text, photo, VoIP call recording, or video images from user devices. They said they are only using information to track performance data that can assist them in improving their services. Is it easy to believe this is their only intent, given the market value of the information they are accused of capturing?

Carrier IQ said in a statement that their software indeed captures a “great deal of information,” but that it doesn’t record, store, or transmit the content of anything personal, like text messages, photos or enlist VoIP call recording capabilities. The statement also said Carrier IQ is able to determine what applications are taking a toll on battery life, but is not capturing the screen of the device.

A senior official with Carrier IQ said that the videos on YouTube that show a user demonstrating the software’s tracking capability doesn’t actually show that the data has been transmitted out of the device. Data that is transmitted at a carrier’s request is stored for 30 days or less.

The controversy regarding Carrier IQ’s software capabilities has been spurred on by lawmakers in Washington D.C. who claim Carrier IQ could be in violation of laws that protect citizens’ privacy, including wiretapping or VoIP call recording. However, Carrier IQ claims that the company “operates … under the laws of applicable jurisdiction.”

While the company’s trying to assure the public that they are not spying on them or using any kind of VoIP call recording, it is doing nothing to tell the consumer how to uninstall or turn off the software. Furthermore, the company should also make attempts to explain why the software was in stealth mode to begin with.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against companies carrying Carrier IQ, including T-Mobile, Apple, Sprint, Samsung (News - Alert), HTC, AT&T, and Motorola. The lawsuit alleges “unprecedented breach of the digital privacy rights of 150 million cell phone users.” The lawsuit also asserts that Carrier IQ’s software violates the Federal Wiretap Act as well as the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Electronic Communications Act.

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Juliana Kenny