Carrier IQ and mobile carriers know what you did last week; with online spying bills so will the government

Remember that text you sent? That email you typed up? Who called you? Or what you searched on your smartphone exactly 3 months, 2 minutes, and 39 seconds ago? Chances are that Carrier IQ does, and in turn, so does your mobile service provider. Are you slightly worried about the security of your cellphone data yet? Because it’s important to also keep in mind that if the Canadian government succeeds in passing it’s online spying bills, they’ll have access to all your mobile and wireless data too—and all without a warrant.

Last week, security researcher Trevor Eckhart found Carrier IQ’s secret software logging everything from keystrokes, texts, emails, and even encrypted information on his Android phone. The software is programmed to be as undetectable as possible, ridiculously hard to take off one’s phone, and if that’s not already bad enough—it’s installed and run on smartphones without the owner’s knowledge or permission. Obviously, people are concerned and outrage has ensued all over the Internet and media.

And while lawsuits are being filed and information continues to develop, several questions remain unanswered; which mobile service providers or device manufacturers are buying services from Carrier IQ? Who is installing it? What devices are running it? What information is being recorded? Etc.

So far, a handful of Canadian service providers and manufacturers including Bell, Telus, Rogers and RIM have released statements clarifying whether they work with Carrier IQ or not. Wikileaks will also be joining in on the discussion and has announced it will be exposing three Canadian companies who, as Jordan Press from the National Post writes, “it claims are part of a global industry that helps governments spy on citizens.” Wow.

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that mobile privacy is not all that private. What’s troubling is that this is all happening even before the Canadian government passes its online spying bills. This time next year it could be Canadian ‘authorities’, not only telcos and/or device manufacturers, who are tracking and monitoring wireless information. Only, the government will be able to do so lawfully without a warrant, without your consent, and certainly without your knowledge.

If Canadian privacy is already being violated, let’s make sure these kinds of violations are not codified and made into law. Get informed and be heard. Let your MP know how you feel about warrantless, invasive, and costly online spying, and help bring about constructive conversation in Parliament.