Summary Box: Calif. Clamps Down On Mobile Privacy

Published February 23, 2012 1:45AM (EST)

MOBILE PRIVACY: California has decided the makers of mobile applications fall under a 7-year-old state law governing online privacy. That means mobile apps seeking to protect personal information must give consumers advance warning before their services can be installed on smartphones and computer tablets.

THE ENFORCER: California Attorney General Kamala Harris cleared up the confusion about whether the law applied to mobile apps after meeting with six of the most powerful companies in mobile computing.

THE INTRUSIONS: Many mobile apps have been pulling sensitive information, such as people's contact lists and location, without spelling out their practices in privacy policies.


By Salon Staff

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