CarrierIQ execs meet with FTC and FCC officials to address privacy concerns (update)

CarrierIQ is having a difficult time making friends. Nearly two weeks after Massachusetts congressman Edward Markey asked the FTC to open an investigation on the data collection company, it appears his wish may be granted. According to anonymous government officials close to the Washington Post -- and confirmed by CarrierIQ itself -- senior officials from the company visited the nation's capital yesterday to discuss the matter with representatives from the FTC and the FCC, as well as a few congressional staffers. The Federal Trade Commission itself hasn't confirmed that it's opening a probe into the situation; regardless, it's certainly evident that the government's beginning to look very close at the company's practices. It's great news for privacy advocates, but whether it amounts to any changes remains to be seen.

Update: We just received a report from the New York Times that Carrier IQ claims it was misquoted in the Washington Post. In a statement released later, the company said:

This week CarrierIQ sought meetings with the FTC and FCC to educate the two agencies about the functionality of its software and answer any and all questions. Although Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-Chairman of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the practices of Carrier IQ, we are not aware of an official investigation into Carrier IQ at this time.

CarrierIQ execs meet with FTC and FCC officials to address privacy concerns (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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