Schakowsky, Bilirakis Seek Answers from Google and Apple Over Foreign Surveillance in Mobile Apps
Text of letter to Google (PDF)
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Ranking Member of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent letters to Apple and Google inquiring about the foreign surveillance of Americans by mobile applications in the companies' app stores.
"We write to express our serious concern for consumer safety and data privacy related to Apple's approval of multiple applications into its App Store with the potential to secretly monitor users, collect sensitive personal information, and share such information with foreign entities," said the lawmakers. "Apple's failure to implement rigorous application scrutiny makes Americans vulnerable to foreign surveillance, particularly from adversarial actors like China."
In August, a researcher revealed that apps use in-app browsers to track what sites consumers visit and what they do on those sites. Chinese-owned app TikTok goes even further by using code to track every keystroke a user makes within the app's in-app browser, potentially gathering sensitive personal data like credit card numbers or passwords.
"TikTok's case is particularly egregious in that it is the only major app evaluated that ‘doesn't even offer an option to open the link in the device's default browser, forcing you to go through its own in-app browser,'" added the lawmakers. "Turning a blind eye to an application that permits such surveillance endangers Americans, specifically the overwhelming number of teenagers that use TikTok and may be more susceptible to manipulation or negative social, emotional, and developmental impacts."
Just this summer, a researcher discovered that seven popular apps, currently available in Apple's App Store, are embedded with malware.
"By continuing to advocate for its exclusive control over the application marketplace on iOS devices, Apple has assumed heightened responsibility for safety of applications made available to its users," concluded the lawmakers.
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