POLITICO reports about efforts on Capitol Hill to protect mobile app users from privacy invasions without stifling innovation. Regulators are concerned because consumers are "maybe aware there are privacy implications of using smartphones" but don't necessarily understand "the value proposition there--getting free or low-price apps in exchange for their information," said the Center for Democracy and Technology's Justin Brookman. In addition to the Federal Trade Commission's first settlements with app developers for COPPA violations last year, many legislators have written letters to app companies and smartphone makers in recent months, two have introduced legislation on geolocation data and Congress has held hearings.
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