Federal investigation called for following Jay-Z's privacy-encroaching Samsung album app

The LA Times are reporting that the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) have issued a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the grounds that Samsung failed to protect users’ privacy regarding Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail smartphone app.

The app, which gave Samsung users free and early access to download MCHG, has faced many problems since release, after it was found that it used large amounts of users’ data.

EPIC said in a statement: “Samsung failed to disclose material information about the privacy practices of the App, collected data unnecessary to the functioning of the Magna Carta App, deprived users of meaningful choice regarding the collection of their data, interfered with device functionality, and failed to implement reasonable data minimization procedures.”

The complaint stated that the app accessed data such as users location, telephone numbers dialed, and information from other applications.

Samsung disagreed with the complaint, saying: “Any information obtained through the application download process was purely for customer verification purposes, app functionality purposes, and for marketing communications, but only if the customer requests to receive those marketing communications. Samsung is in no way inappropriately using or selling any information obtained from users through the download process.”

The LA Times spoke to lawyers who felt that an investigation by the FTC would be unlikely. However, these problems seem to have had no effect on sales, with the album being certified as platinum and reaching number 1 in the UK album charts.

[via FACT]