Mobile Privacy Bill Would Require Disclosure Of Data Collected

Companies would be required to obtain consent from consumers before mobile device monitoring software starts collecting information under a bill introduced in Congress.

Sellers of mobile telephones and providers of mobile service or broadband would need to disclose the following information to consumers prior to activating or collecting information from them under the “Mobile Device Privacy Act.”

• That monitoring software is installed on their mobile telephone.
• A description of the types of information that the monitoring software is capable of collecting and transmitting.
• The identification of any person to whom any information collected will be transmitted or shared.
• An explanation of how such information will be used.

The bill requires that the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission work together to develop regulations to implement the act.

A consumer could recover actual damages or $1,000 for each violation, as well as court costs and attorneys’ fees.