Schumer joins call for privacy probe of Apple, Google phones

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-schumer-android-apple-privacy-20120305,0,383838.story

The privacy heat is getting turned up on smartphone giants Apple Inc. and Google Inc.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) joined the ranks for federal lawmakers asking the iPhone and Android makers for answers about the way their devices collect personal information.

Schumer's questioning came as more legislators have been pressing the companies and federal regulators to clarify smartphone privacy protections after a series of incidents in which it appeared that the companies were leaving users' data vulnerable -- or siphoning it themselves.

Schumer asked the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation of reports that iPhones and Android devices can "steal private photos and customer address books."