Smartphones and Privacy

Abstract

Apple announced in January 2021 that it had an install base of 1 billion iPhones and a total of 1.65 billion active devices (1). In May 2021, Google announced at its (virtual) I/O Developer Conference that Android was running on 3 billion active devices, at a growth rate of about 500 million new devices every two years (2).

“We’re as surprised as anybody to see all that information flowing. It raises a lot of questions for the industry – and not [only] for Carrier IQ.”

– Carrier IQ’s Andrew Coward (December 2011)

“[Mobile World Congress] really should be held in Geneva, close to where Mary Shelley created Frankenstein. With our increasing addiction to our mobile phones, we are in danger of creating a monster.”

– Social critic Andrew Keen (February 2012)

“Your cell phone is communicating completely digital; it’s part of the Internet. The attack surfaces for adversaries to get on the Internet now include all those mobile devices. … The mobile security situation lags. It’s far behind.”

– NSA Director Army Gen. Keith Alexander (July 2012)

“There are no more tables for two; tables for four are our most intimate encounters—two humans and two devices.

– Rev. Nancy Colier (March 2014)

“The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own a smartphone is now 85%.”

– Pew Research Center (April 2021)