Republican probes smartphone security in wake of British hacking scandal

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) has contacted Apple, Google, AT&T and other firms in connection with the phone hacking scandal in Great Britain to question the security of their smartphone platforms.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Manufacturing chairman has been in contact with the firms about safeguards built into their phones after reports the British tabloid News of the World was able to gain access to voicemails from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other prominent figures.

"So far, we haven't discovered any red flags, but until British authorities get to the bottom of the phone hacking scandal, Chairman Bono Mack wants to make certain this contagion doesn't spread to the United States," said spokesman Ken Johnson.

Bono Mack has previously held hearings on data security and mobile privacy as part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's ongoing review of privacy laws. Congress is expected to take up comprehensive privacy legislation later this year.

"At the very least, this is an instructive exercise as the chairman begins a series of far-reaching hearings on privacy," Johnson added.

"We need to know everything that we are up against in our efforts to better protect American consumers. We are also sending follow-up letters this week, requesting more detailed explanations from the companies.”

Google and Apple have already faced scrutiny from lawmakers over earlier reports their smartphone platforms store and transmit user location data.

Both firms have denied tracking consumers and have released updates to address the issue, but that didn't stop Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) from introducing a bill that would require consumers' consent before sharing their location data.

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