[liberationtech] Carrier IQ

[Eric King]

I spoke to them a few months ago but haven't had the time to follow up, or write up what we found. I apologise for that.

I had assumed the data they collected would be sent straight to the MNO, but instead it is all held and analysed by CIQ. One of the questions I then asked them was whether they have ever had any lawful access requests for data they hold; if they complied; as well as if they had ever been approached by a government seeking to gain access to their data. 

They had been very forthcoming with their answers and went to great lengths to explain what they do and do not collect but refused to comment on lawful access requests. They eventually said they would get back to me with a statement, but never did, despite a follow up email.

The figure of 150 million devices is accurate, but I was told also includes devices such as ATMs. They are used outside of the US - mostly in Europe and I was told many MNOs are trialling their software. 

One of their competitors is http://www.nil-labs.com/


On 30 Nov 2011, at 12:40, Rebecca MacKinnon wrote:

> I imagine many people on this list have been following the news about Carrier IQ, the "rootkit" installed on millions of Android, Blackberry and other phones. 
> http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/29/carrier-iq-video-shows-alarming-capabilities-of-mobile-tracking-software/
> 
> In the US, mobile carriers insist that the software is not being used to log the content of people's text communications, though the software has the ability to do so. I am wondering whether anybody on this list has any insight into how Carrier IQ is deployed and used outside the US, and what role Western device-makers or telcos might be playing in said deployment and use.
> 
> Best,
> Rebecca
> 
> -- 
> Rebecca MacKinnon
> Schwartz Senior Fellow, New America Foundation
> Co-founder, Global Voices
> Author, Consent of the Networked 
> Blog: RConversation.blogs.com
> Twitter: @rmack
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