Mobile Application Makers Accused of Harvesting Address Book Data

A complaint filed recently in Texas accuses many well-known mobile application makers (like Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, and many others) of surreptitiously taking users' address book data. The complaint also names Apple for its role in facilitating the purchase of these apps. According to the complaint, the defendants have violated, inter alia, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. This class action suit seeks actual and statutory damages, as well as the deletion of all improperly-obtained data.

TIP: This case serves as a reminder to make sure that you understand how and if your mobile app will collect any personal information from users, and if so, that you make appropriate disclosures about those practices.