For those few who have not read anything about the CarrierIQ drama going on in the mobile-tech industry, here is a brief summation: the bottom line is that a security researcher at XDA, Trevor Eckhart (TrevE), found what is basically tracking software loaded at the kernel level on devices by HTC, Samsung, and others (it may even be in Apple's iOS). The software is from a company called CarrierIQ. He shared his findings with the mobile community. After he did that, the company CarrierIQ, threatened him with a "cease and desist" legal action letter. They claimed copyright infringement (related to his reposting of their public available training materials), then demanded he replace his post with a full retraction and issue the same retraction as a press release.
Eckhart didn't back down from their baseless threats, and called the software a rootkit (basically malware). He retained EFF as legal counsel, and shortly after that, CarrierIQ retracted their cease and desist letter. They backpedaled, and insisted that they don't track Android users. Since then, a number of companies have come forward claiming that some or all of their devices do not have CarrierIQ software on them, including RIM, and Nokia. Other unnamed sources came forward indicating that certain devices do not carry the software, including Google Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus and the Motorola Xoom.
Ultimately, Verizon has thrown their hat into the ring recently denying that any of their phones come with the CarrierIQ software. In fact, they wanted to make things so clear, they reiterated it. They first came out last week indicating that they don't use the software, and now they have tweeted it yet again.
From what is known, it appears to be more of a carrier issue, than a manufacturer issue, but this has not been completely confirmed. It's ironic that CarrierIQ would try to deny these claims, when their own marketing material (pictured above) basically says that their software tracks users.
Update: Apparently, even the U.S. Government has taken notice of this issue with Carrier IQ. Senator Al Franken, Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and Law is reportedly investigating this, and has asked many of the same questions that the community has been asking CarrierIQ. In fact, he has "requested" that they answer his questions by December 14. Perhaps he can get some honest answers from them. Update Source: TheVerge
Thanks for the tips, ilikemoneygreen!
Source: TheVerge: (1) & (2) and Twitter - VZW, Jeffrey Nelson
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