Sen. Franken Expects Answers From Apple Soon
By Adam Thomas, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs has not replied to Sen. Al Franken's letter about privacy concerns, but Franken expects answers soon.
In a letter dated April 20, Sen. Franken asked a series of questions about the location and tracking data stored on the operating software for the iPhone, iPod and iPad.
"I don't think there's really any mystery at Apple as to the answers to these questions," Sen. Franken told WCCO Radio on Sunday.
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The two-page letter was sent after it was revealed that certain Apple gadgets contain unencrypted data that could be used to track a person's movements, if that data fell into the wrong hands.
Franken admits there are plenty of legitimate reasons to have such data in the first place.
"But there's also a balance to strike and in this case, Apple has not done this in a very balanced way," Franken said.
The letter was one of the first major actions Franken took as chairman of the newly formed Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law.
The Judiciary subcommittee will tackle similar technology issues as they arise and Franken said other issues already involve Apple, and even Google.
"We haven't announced our first hearing yet, and I'm not going to do it here," Franken joked.
