Bono Mack asks about phone security

In the wake of the News Corp. phone hacking scandal, Rep. Mary Bono Back (R-Calif.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, sent a letter to telecommunication trade associations asking about the security of phone data.

“At present, what safeguards do your member companies employ to ensure that American consumers are adequately protected against the type of phone hacking scandal currently being investigated in the United Kingdom,” Bono Mack asked.

The letter was sent on Monday to the heads of the U.S. Telecom Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, the Consumer Electronics Association and CTIA - The Wireless Association.

In addition to asking the associations about their views on whether new legislation is needed, Bono Mack also requested statistics on how common phone hacking is. 

She requested answers to her questions by Aug. 2. 

Last week, Bono Mack contacted Apple, Google and AT&T directly to ask about the security of phone data. Ken Johnson, a spokesman for Bono Mack, said that the congresswoman sent the letter to the trade associations to get a more complete picture of phone security. 

“As we thought it through, we realized there are other providers and other device-makers who can shed light on this issue,” Johnson said.  

Last week, Bono Mack held the first in what is expected to be a series of hearings on consumer privacy. Johnson said that the security of phones is a “piece of the puzzle” of consumer privacy.

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