Carrier IQ software is installed on many mobile devices without user consent to monitor network performance and device usage. While carriers claim it is only used for service improvements and does not access personal data, researchers found it can track keystrokes and other sensitive information. Mobile manufacturers like Apple and Blackberry deny pre-installing or endorsing Carrier IQ, and carriers are facing scrutiny over their surveillance practices and lack of transparency around the software.

1. Carrier IQ and the Surveillance
state

2. "When citizens overthrew the dictatorships in
Egypt and Libya this year, they uncovered
listening rooms where devices from Gamma
corporation of the UK, Amesys of
France, VASTech of South Africa and ZTE Corp of
China monitored their every move online and on
the phone.

3. Sprint’s statement regarding its use of Carrier
IQ
• Carrier IQ provides information that allows Sprint, and other carriers that
use it, to analyze our network performance and identify where we should
be improving service. We also use the data to understand device
performance so we can figure out when issues are occurring. We collect
enough information to understand the customer experience with devices
on our network and how to address any connection problems, but we do
not and cannot look at the contents of
messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool. The information collected is
not sold and we don’t provide a direct feed of this data to anyone outside
of Sprint.
• Sprint is well known for our serious commitment to respecting and
protecting the privacy and security of each customer’s personally
identifiable information and other customer data. A key element of this
involves communicating with our customers about our information privacy
practices. The Sprint privacy policy makes it clear we collect information
that includes how a device is functioning and how it is being used. Carrier
IQ is an integral part of the Sprint service. Sprint uses Carrier IQ to help
maintain our network performance.

4. Apple on Carrier IQ
• We stopped supporting Carrier IQ with iOS 5 in most of our products and
will remove it completely in a future software update. With any diagnostic
data sent to Apple, customers must actively opt-in to share this
information, and if they do, the data is sent in an anonymous and
encrypted form and does not include any personal information. We never
recorded keystrokes, messages or any other personal information for
diagnostic data and have no plans to ever do so.

5. HTC on Carrier IQ
• Carrier IQ is required on devices by a number of U.S carriers so if
consumers or media have any questions about the practices relating to, or
data collected by, Carrier IQ we’d advise them to contact their carrier.
• It is important to note that HTC is not a customer or partner of Carrier IQ
and does not receive data from the application, the company, or carriers
that partner with Carrier IQ. HTC is investigating the option to allow
consumers to opt-out of data collection by the Carrier IQ application.

6. Blackberry on Carrier IQ
• RIM is aware of a recent claim by a security researcher that an application
called ‘CarrierIQ’ is installed on mobile devices from multiple vendors
without the knowledge or consent of the device users,” the company said
in a statement. “RIM does not pre-install the CarrierIQ app on BlackBerry
smartphones or authorize its carrier partners to install the CarrierIQ app
before sales or distribution. RIM also did not develop or commission the
development of the CarrierIQ application, and has no involvement in the
testing, promotion, or distribution of the app. RIM will continue to
investigate reports and speculation related to CarrierIQ.

7. Nokia on Carrier IQ
• Nokia is aware of inaccurate reports which state that software from
CarrierIQ has been found on Nokia devices. CarrierIQ does not ship
products for any Nokia devices, so these reports are wrong.

8. Carrier IQ on Carrier IQ
• We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the functionality of Carrier IQ’s
software, what it does not do and what it does:
– Does not record your keystrokes.
– Does not provide tracking tools.
– Does not inspect or report on the content of your communications, such
as the content of emails and SMSs.
– Does not provide real-time data reporting to any customer.
– Finally, we do not sell Carrier IQ data to third parties.
• Our software is designed to help mobile network providers diagnose critical issues
that lead to problems such as dropped calls and battery drain.
• Here’s what our software does:
– Our software makes your phone work better by identifying dropped calls and
poor service.
– Our software identifies problems that impede a phone’s battery life.
– Our software makes customer service quicker, more accurate, and
more efficient.
– Our software helps quickly identify trending problems to help
mobile networks prevent them from becoming more widespread.