Google Nexus Android phones do not include Carrier IQ tracking software (opens in new tab)

(theverge.com)

109 pointsglymor14y ago21 comments

21 comments

15 comments · 6 top-level

Synaesthesia14y ago· 5 in thread

The big news is that the carriers forced it onto almost all smartphones (Android, Blackberry, iPhone). The blame needs to be pinned on them.

fpgeek14y ago

I'm curious about which carriers.

Are we just talking about US carriers or carriers worldwide? I'd think "Carrier IQ" wouldn't fly under stricter European privacy laws (even if it is OK in the US, which some people say is an open question). Is that right?

quanticle14y ago

Well, I don't know which carriers have installed CarrierIQ on their phones, but according to this: http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/1/2602532/verizon-carrier-iq... Verizon denies using or ever having used CarrierIQ.

Synaesthesia14y ago

Absolutely. That was the very question I thought of as I posted that. I have a suspicion it's US carriers.

2 more replies

nutjob12314y ago

We need to specify WHICH carriers forced it onto smartphones. Verizon is the biggest carrier in the US and they don't use carrier iq. (although they do put a ton of crap on phones) http://gigaom.com/2011/12/01/verizon-no-carrieriq-no-way/

WestCoastJustin14y ago

I have a Samsung GalaxyS running Android on Rogers (rogers.com) up in Canada and there is no CarrierIQ installed. Maybe we need to create a spreadsheet so we can track which phones / providers have this installed.

nodata14y ago· 2 in thread

CarrierIQ - does this mean that contract-free phones don't have it installed?

w1ntermute14y ago

Of course not. If you bought the phone through a carrier that has CarrierIQ normally installed, then why would they make an exception for the 0.1% of customers who bought a smartphone off-contract?

So no, the name has nothing to do with it.

nodata14y ago

Who said anything about buying through a carrier?

1 more reply

rbanffy14y ago· 1 in thread

I think Cyanogenmod builds also are CarrierIQ free.

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices

ktsmith14y ago

As are MIUI builds which are based on Cyanogenmod.

mstepniowski14y ago· 1 in thread

"We're still wondering why Google would reject Carrier IQ from its flagship devices but allow phones with the software to pass the various Android compatibility tests required to license its apps like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android Market."

drcube14y ago

Google doesn't include Bing in its flagship devices. That doesn't mean somebody can't install it later if they want to.

1 more reply

moomin14y ago

I'd hope Google knew how to track users efficiently without third-party help.

hamoid14y ago

Looking at the latest Wikileaks release (http://wikileaks.org/the-spyfiles.html) it makes me think that this Carrier IQ thing, if it is used for getting to our personal data, is just a pixel in the complete picture.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

21 comments

15 comments · 6 top-level

Synaesthesia14y ago· 5 in thread

The big news is that the carriers forced it onto almost all smartphones (Android, Blackberry, iPhone). The blame needs to be pinned on them.

fpgeek14y ago

I'm curious about which carriers.

quanticle14y ago

Synaesthesia14y ago

Absolutely. That was the very question I thought of as I posted that. I have a suspicion it's US carriers.

2 more replies

nutjob12314y ago

WestCoastJustin14y ago

nodata14y ago· 2 in thread

CarrierIQ - does this mean that contract-free phones don't have it installed?

w1ntermute14y ago

Of course not. If you bought the phone through a carrier that has CarrierIQ normally installed, then why would they make an exception for the 0.1% of customers who bought a smartphone off-contract?

So no, the name has nothing to do with it.

nodata14y ago

Who said anything about buying through a carrier?

1 more reply

rbanffy14y ago· 1 in thread

I think Cyanogenmod builds also are CarrierIQ free.

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices

ktsmith14y ago

As are MIUI builds which are based on Cyanogenmod.

mstepniowski14y ago· 1 in thread

drcube14y ago

Google doesn't include Bing in its flagship devices. That doesn't mean somebody can't install it later if they want to.

1 more reply

moomin14y ago

I'd hope Google knew how to track users efficiently without third-party help.

hamoid14y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse