Many Smartphone Apps Know User's Location Even When Not in Use, Says FTC Blogger

Even when an individual isn't using an app on a smartphone, many apps still know the user's location, said an FTC blog post by Amanda Koulousias, an attorney in the Privacy and Identity Protection Division. Map apps that can give a consumer directions quickly, or a shopping app that notifies consumers about a sale nearby, may be considered helpful, Koulousias said. “But this kind of tracking also increases the amount of information apps collect -- and potentially share -- about you.” Consumers can often disable an app’s ability to track their location by changing the app’s settings, she said. “Depending on your device’s operating system, there might be system settings that can help, too.”