Discussion: A team of researchers at iPhone Tracker recently discovered that iPhones and 3G-enabled iPads appear to be tracking and storing data about their users’ whereabouts without their knowledge.  Although most cell phone providers collect similar data as part of their operations, it is kept behind a firewall and normally requires a court order to gain access to it.  But this information is now available to anyone that can get their hands on the phone.  Apple has yet to respond to the allegations and researchers can only speculate about Apple’s motive.  “One guess might be that they have new features in mind that require a history of your location,” they said.  As for iPhone users, some describe it as “cool” while others are outraged.

Source: CNN.com

Date: April 21, 2011

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/04/20/iphone.tracking/index.html

Questions for discussion:

• Why do the researchers believe that this tracking file is not accidental?
• What kind of businesses could capitalize on this kind of information?
• Discuss the adage “marketing is the art of deception?”