Sen. Schumer wants FTC probe of Apple, Google
Schumer calls on the agency to investigate apps that access the photos of mobile phone users
IDG News Service - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission should investigate Apple and Google for allowing applications on their mobile OSes to access users' photographs without permission, a U.S. senator said.
Some mobile applications on the Android and iOS OSes "steal" users photos, said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat. The mobile OSes allowing apps to access user photos is a "disturbing and potentially unfair practice," Schumer said in a statement issued Sunday. The New York Times reported on the issue last week.
"When someone takes a private photo, on a private cell phone, it should remain just that: private," Schumer said in a statement. "Smartphone developers have an obligation to protect the private content of their users and not allow them to be veritable treasure troves of private, personal information that can then be uploaded and distributed without the consumer's consent."
