This morning on Capital Hill, Apple and Google are testifying about how their products track and store user locations. You watch live right here. Lawmakers want more information about how some mobile applications gather and share users' location information.
Federal prosecutors and consumer advocates are addressing the Senate subcommitte as part of today's proceedings. The hearing comes after Apple representatives recently defended its policies to members of Congress. Here's more from the Associated Press:
Apple is telling Congress that its iPhone location tracking is meant to improve service, not stalk customers.
The company outlined its stance in a letter released Monday by the House of Representatives. An Apple Inc. vice president, Guy Tribble, is set to testify Tuesday before a Senate subcommittee. A Google Inc. executive, Alan Davidson, is also set to testify.
Congress is demanding details from smartphone companies about their tracking practices, after researchers revealed last month that iPhones and Android phones themselves were secretly keeping track of users’ locations.
Apple and Google say they only record the location of Wi-Fi hot spots and cell towers to improve service, and tracking can be turned off. Apple said a “bug” caused the iPhone to keep location data even when tracking was disabled.