Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Jobs briefly returned from medical leave of absence to launch the iPad2 in early March. Jeff Chiu/AP/Press Association Images
Big Brother

Member of US Congress calls on Steve Jobs to explain Apple tracker

IPhones and 3G iPads have been secretly tracking and recording a user’s movements, storing all of the information on a file within the units.

US CONGRESSMAN ED MARKEY has written to Apple CEO Steve Jobs asking him to answer questions arising out of revelations that iPhones and iPads have been secretly tracking and recording their user’s movements.

Technology security experts claim that the tracking information is logged onto iPhone or iPod devices running iOS4. This is then copied to a file on the owner’s computer when they synch their device to that computer.

Jobs is on indefinite medical leave since mid-January and Apple COO Tim Cook is standing in for him, however, the LA Times reports that Markey requested a response from Jobs by 12 May.

In the letter, Markey asks the Apple chief to clarify if the company intentionally developed the tracking system and, if not, what the purpose of that function is.

He also asked if the information is being collected by Apple and what it is being used for.

Apple has so far declined to comment on reports regarding the user tracking, which cannot be opted out of.

Read: Smile! Your iPhone’s watching you… >

Poll: iPhone surveillance. Do you care?