Representative Henry Waxman sent a letter to Apple asking for an explanation regarding its iOS app privacy policies. The company was criticized a week ago because its photo-sharing service Path downloaded address books without the permission of the users.
The US House subcommittee said that it wants to know why Apple doesn’t require iOS app developers to seek user permission first before downloading their contacts. The incident with the Path raised questions about Apple’s iOS app developer policies and practices with regards to protecting the iPhone use data and contacts.
The letter was sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Apple said that it would change its policy so that iOS apps that use address book information would first require permission of the users. Apps that collect or send user’s contact data without prior permission from the users would violate company’s guidelines.
The House subcommittee suggested that the practice is common among iOS developers who deemed that it was acceptable to send user’s entire address book without the knowledge of the users. Apps send the data to remote servers and store it for future reference.
The subcommittee gave Apple until February 29 to answer to the questions in the letter. It included questions related to the company’s iOS apps guidelines on security and privacy of data accessed or transmitted by apps.
