Skip to main content

Carrier IQ responds to scandal: We’re not doing anything wrong

carrier-iq-privacy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Carrier IQ, which makes diagnostic software for mobile devices, has responded to claims that it is spying on users. Its statement, which shrugs off any wrongdoing whatsoever, follows a flurry of statements from the mobile industry’s biggest players, and an inquiry into the matter by Sen. Al Franken.

In an interview with AllThingsD‘s John Paczkowski, Carrier IQ spokesperson Andrew Coward said that his company’s software “receives a huge amount of information from the operating system. But just because it receives it doesn’t mean that it’s being used to gather intelligence about the user or passed along to the carrier.”

The uproar over Carrier IQ’s software, which is installed on millions of devices on AT&T and Sprint networks (but not Verzion), and is completely hidden from the user, started after Android developer Trevor Eckhard released a YouTube video showing the software at work. In the 17-minute clip, the software is shown recording keystrokes, location, URLs, incoming text messages, and encrypted data.

Contrary to previous accounts — and to Eckhard’s findings — Coward says that the video does not show that “all information is processed, stored, or forwarded out of the device” by Carrier IQ’s software. Instead, it’s simply being used to send out information that is useful to carriers for quality-assessment purposes, Coward asserts. So if, for instance, your device drops a call, or a text message fails to go through, that information may be recorded and sent to the carrier.

To determine which information is sent to carriers, Carrier IQ’s software is programmed to look for specific numeric sequences. If one of these sequences shows up in its system, that information is sent to the carrier.

Carrier IQ’s software can be modified to each carrier’s specifications, so only the data the carrier wants to know about it sent. In addition, Coward says that Carrier IQ’s software does not record the contents of text messages, only the number to which a message is sent. It also does not record the contents of websites visited, only the URL.

“What’s actually gathered, stored and transmitted to the carrier is determined by its end-user agreement,” Carrier IQ chief executive Larry Lenhart tells AllthingsD. “And, as I’m sure you’re aware, the carriers are highly sensitive about what data they’re allowed to capture and what they’re not allowed to capture.”

Lenhart also says that none of the data collected by its software is sent to third parties. “We would never take that data and distribute it to a third party. We are prohibited from doing that by our agreements.”

OK, now that we have the official company line out of the way, let’s take a look at what’s actually being said here. First, Carrier IQ has explicitly said that it “listens” to a wide range of activity on the phone, but doesn’t record all of it. The only information that is passed on to the carrier is that which is pre-designated as important, only data that relates to quality control.

If you ask us, the problem is not that carriers want to know when something goes wrong with their network, or a device on their network. The problem is that Carrier IQ’s software is 1) hidden from the user; 2) does not give the ability to opt-out; and 3) could, potentially, be programmed to record and send any data entered into the phone, even if it’s currently only being used to transmit data related to service quality.

Carrier IQ’s clarification on the matter only confirms that mobile users are trusting the company not to betray their privacy. That makes mobile users’ who have Carrier IQ’s software installed vulnerable. And that, folks, is a problem, even if Carrier IQ doesn’t agree.

Needless to say, this issue is far from over. As PaidContent reports, Carrier IQ, as well as HTC and Samsung, both of which have admitted to installing Carrier IQ’s software on their devices, have been sued by plaintiffs in Chicago and St. Louis. The suit is based upon the Federal Wiretap Act, which forbids the interception of “oral, wire or electronic communications.” Violation of this law allows for penalties of up to $100 per day, per violation. The plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars in damages. HTC, for one, says it is investigating ways to disable the software.

As of this writing, Carrier IQ’s software has been installed on more than 141,3oo,000 devices, according to the company website.

[Image via Tischenko Irina/Shutterstock]

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Much-desired iPhone feature may not arrive until 2027
The Apple logo on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

We’ve heard a lot in recent years about an iPhone that ditches the Dynamic Island, placing the selfie camera and FaceID technology beneath the glass for a clean, full display. But despite a growing number of Android phones adopting the design, for the iPhone it still seems a ways off.

In 2022, oft-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that a full display could arrive with next year's iPhone 16, though others in the same field have since suggested that it may take several more iterations of the iPhone before the tech giant is able to make the change.

Read more
This smart ring maker has some wild product plans for 2024
A person holding the Ultrahuman Air ring, showing the sensors.

“We wanted to chat about what's coming in the near future, as well as some new product launches that are happening over the next couple of months, which I think you'll find really interesting. I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what's coming.”

This was how Mohit Kumar, founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, started our conversation when I spoke to him over Zoom. And in doing so, he definitely had my attention. What followed was a fascinating glimpse at how the Ultrahuman Ring Air that I wore recently is only the start for this four-year-old company.
15 new product releases

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 line prices slashed for the holidays
A Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is held up on top of a desk.

If you're thinking about getting a tablet for a holiday gift -- whether for a loved one or for yourself -- you should check out the discounts that are available for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 line of devices. The previous-generation tablets are still pretty reliable by today's standards, and they offer amazing value because of Samsung's discounts. For their 128GB versions, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is down to $510 from $700 for $190 in savings, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is down to $630 from $900 for $270 in savings, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is down to $720 from $1,100 for $380 in savings. If you're interested in any of these tablet deals, you're going to have to hurry with your purchase if you want the device to arrive before the rush of the holiday season starts.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (128GB) -- $510, was $700

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 features an 11-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate for super smooth movements on the display, and it's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with 8GB of RAM that enables fast performance while you launch and use apps. What makes it stand out from other Android tablets is its suite of productivity features, including the customizable Edge Panel, the versatility of the S Pen, and the ability to function as a portable monitor, among others. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 also has an 8,000 mAh battery and the option to expand its storage capacity by up to 1TB through a microSD card.

Read more