Views Differ on Efforts To Curb 'Surreptitious' Tracking App Use, GAO Finds

The federal government has several educational, enforcement and legislative efforts to protect people from the use of "surreptitious" smartphone tracking apps, but the GAO said in a report Monday that some stakeholders "differed" over whether current laws against stalking should be strengthened in response to the use of such apps. In analyzing 40 tracking apps and their websites' marketing language, GAO said a majority of these apps are marketed to parents and employers to monitor their children and employees. But it said about one-third of the websites reviewed market their apps as surreptitious, meaning they track individuals without their knowledge or consent. In interviews with academics, domestic violence groups and privacy advocates, GAO said many were concerned about the applicability of current federal laws in the manufacture, sale and use of such apps, the limited enforcement of such laws, and the need for more education about the apps. But others differed. "Some industry stakeholders were concerned that legislative actions could be overly broad and harm legitimate uses of tracking apps," GAO said. "However, stakeholders generally agreed that location data can be highly personal information and are deserving of privacy protections." GAO didn't make any recommendations in the report.