Senators demand answers from Facebook, Google, and Apple over now-banned ‘research’ monitoring apps

Image: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Republican and democratic senators are reaching across the aisle to demand answers from three U.S. tech behemoths.

U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have sent three separate letters to Facebook, Google, and Apple looking for answers to their questions regarding the now-banned “research” apps.

In the , the bipartisan group of senators demand information regarding the Project Atlas market research program. The reportedly paid $20 a month to users as young as 13 to install the app. The app gave Facebook complete access to a user’s iOS or Android device in order to monitor their phone and internet usage.

“We write concerned about reports that Facebook is collecting highly-sensitive data on teenagers, including their web browsing, phone use, communications, and locations – all to profile their behavior without adequate disclosure, consent, or oversight,” begins the letter to Facebook. “Facebook’s monitoring under Project Atlas is particularly concerning because the data collection performed by the research app was deeply invasive.”

The letter requests Facebook answer 12 questions posed by the senators about the program. These questions consist of inquiries into how many users were involved in the program to whether Facebook would support legislation that would create new online privacy safeguards for teens and children.

“Given the sensitivity and seriousness of any intrusions into the privacy of teens, we respectfully request a written response to the following questions by March 1, 2019,” writes the senators.

In their and , senators Blumenthal, Markey, and Hawley seek information on the distribution of these types of app on the App Store and Google Play. The senators also inquire about install metrics of Facebook’s research app from these companies. In addition, the Senators letter also ask Apple and Google what they’re doing to protect its users from future monitoring practices.

“Platforms must be vigilant in light of threats to teen privacy posed by programs like Project Atlas,” write the senators to both Apple and Google. “Facebook is not alone in engaging in commercial monitoring of teens.”

The senators also requested information from regarding its own similar Screenwise Meter monitoring app.

Last week, TechCrunch two bombshell that uncovered VPN apps, distributed by Facebook and Google, monitoring users mobile activity. Because Apple forbids monitoring apps on its App Store, the apps were distributed to iOS devices via Apple’s Enterprise Developer Program as a workaround.

In response to and distributing these apps outside of each respective company, which is against the Apple’s enterprise policy, the company removed both from the program.

The three companies have until March 1 to respond to the letters.