Wireless carriers are putting consumers’ privacy and security at risk...

data are shared with third-party users, could be subject to increased surveillance from law enforcement agencies and are at increased risk of identity theft (http://xrl.us/bntow4). GAO said wireless companies have not consistently implemented policies to protect consumers’ privacy while using mobile phones and urged the NTIA to work with carriers to develop industry codes of conduct that would govern their use of consumer geolocation data. Such codes of conduct could subsequently be enforced by the FTC under its authority to curb unfair and deceptive practices, the report said. The report was requested by Senate Privacy Subcommittee Chairman Al Franken, D-Minn., who authored the Location Privacy Act (S-1223). Franken said the report shows that mobile industry companies are giving out consumers’ location data “without their knowledge or explicit consent,” in a news release. He urged lawmakers to support S-1223 as a “commonsense solution” that requires companies to obtain consumers’ permission before they collect or share location information with third parties. Separately, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he welcomed the report’s recommendations and touted his Mobile Device Privacy Act (HR-6377) as a means to promote greater transparency of the collection and transmission of consumers’ wireless information.