Google Joins Apple in Mobile Tracking Scandal

[Michael Essany]

Google has formally joined Apple on the list of tech giants involved in mobile tracking scandals. Following weeks of controversy stemming from the recent discovery that Apple's iOS tracks user location information, on Tuesday Google joined the party as South Korean police raided Google's Seoul offices. The raid was promoted by concern and accompanying reports that Google is collecting sensitive user information without informed consent from customers.

According to Reuters, South Korean police have been snooping around Google's AdMob advertising division and the findings lead to the sudden and surprising search. "We suspect AdMob collected personal location information without consent or approval from the Korean Communication Commission," an official with the South Korean police stated. For now, Google will only confirm that the raid did, indeed, happen. No comment from the company other than to express Google's cooperation with any subsequent investigation.

"Every technology has a flip side. Location-based services benefit customers by helping them find nearby restaurants, gas stations and other places with their smartphones," Kim Kwang-jo, a computer science professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, tells Reuters. "But it could potentially violate consumer privacy. There are loopholes in location-based services, and companies should get consent from customers to collect location data."

Yesterday, we reported that Apple is preparing a remedy for the iOS tracking bug and will release iOS 4.3.3 in the coming weeks to hopefully end this saga once and for all. For the time being, however, it isn't clear what - of anything - Google has potentially done wrong or how the search and mobile giant will remedy any discovered user privacy violations.

Source: Reuters

[c0dy]

Not at all surprised. I'm glad Google is taking a hit too, though. My Droid friends were acting pretty crappy lately

[unison999]

Lets see what they get from the raid.

[coolguy742]

Holy shite! So Apple isn't the only evil mega-corporation?! Trololol


Sent from my iPod touch using ModMyi

[delusion950]

I guess they arent the only one.

[cocoabean772]

It's funny cuz android ask if it can track your locations as soon as you open the box and start the phone for the first time

[feidhlim1986]

Jees Google will copy anything Apple does huh

[liquidzoo]

Not surprised in the slightest.

It really wouldn't surprise me if Google tracked you anyway even if you decline the initial tracking question.

[Colby21]

OMG with this again?

Like one user already said, Android phones ask you if they can obtain sensitive information from your use and location. Last time i checked, that's called "informed consent."

[DarkDragonAn]

I am glad that Apple is not the only as_hole on this situation.

[one1]

anyone with little snitch knows what google collects. no surprises, as some of you only know the smallest bit of it all.

[rkswat]

[IMG]Yesterday, we reported that Apple is preparing a remedy for the iOS tracking bug and will release iOS 4.3.3

Really? It isn't a bug just because apple says it is. So maybe call it what it really is, a bs story apple gave every one and not a "bug".

[unison999]

Anybody see what evidance Korean Government ceased? No, but they are guilty.
I saw what info iPhone collected on my phone, yet I am over reacting and Apple is not collecting data eventhough it was sent to Apple...

I find it funny that when Google "may have" collected info, Google is obviously guilty without seeing the proof. But when Apple did it and we saw the proof, replies is all kinds of excuse for Apple eventhough data trail ends at Apple.

[adebeci]

God daeemmmmm, Bin Laden is dead because hi have an iPhone lol, or a Android?

[psychodave]

I find it funny how when they found about this with the iPhone it was on all news stations but when they release it for google it's only on websites. Hummm :/

[TheDirtyDiddler]

I've always thought Google to be sketchier than Apple, even though I use products and services from both companies. I can't help but feel like Google would have a more malicious intent with this than Apple did. Apple wants to control the tech world, Google wants to control PEOPLE.

[sk8ertim]

lol
for me, this is old news, because my Russian hacker buddies discovered that g00gl3 has been tracking us by our MAC addys!
How 'bout that!

Edit:
Does any one how I can spoof or edit my MAC on my iphone 4 (3.2.1) without SpoofMAC?
Cause SpoofMAC aint working for some reason... :-\

[kuhndsn]

No one should be surprised. It's just Apple is big news because of their spot light whit their success. Microsoft was Apple is now. And who knows the next giant to make a comeback will be the next. Besides anything that accesses the Internet is trackable. One foot of fiber can store millions of info. Anyone remember the telephone fiber issue in theearly 90s.

[whereswaldo]

Google always copies Apple, the good and the bad

[AKCHRIS]

Lmao@ this being a Scandal. It's not a scandal. People just need to read teh fine Print. How's this any different then when u Use Mobile Me to find your iPhone? lol I mean come on.