With all the buzz about Apple iPhones storing users’ location information, four major wireless carriers were asked to provide answers about what they store and why. All of them answered in one way or another.
Verizon, however, had much more to say than just answering the questions. In a letter to Representatives Ed Markey and Joe Barton, Verizon explained that it will be putting warning labels on all of its wireless devices to notify customers of the data collections. None of the other wireless companies have made such a suggestion.
According to Verizon, the removable sticker will be placed on all the new devices. The sticker reads: “This device is capable of determining its (and your) physical, geographical location and can associate this data with other customer information. To limit access to location information by others, refer the User Guide for Location settings and be cautious when downloading, accessing or using applications and services.”
The decision to add the sticker came as Verizon expressed that it believes location-based apps “should give customers clear and transparent notice” about the data being collected.
Representative Markey, however, didn’t appreciate the third-party breakdown. He explained in a statement on his site that the responses given by the carriers left him uneasy and uncertain because of the obvious disconnection where third party application are concerned.
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