Answers needed on technology breaches

Every week it seems that Americans are hit with new technology breaches that could compromise their privacy.

Apple iPhones and Google Androids track their whereabouts. Hackers plunder Sony's PlayStation for their personal data, including credit card numbers. And on and on.

The response of the corporate technology giants is unsettling and often strains credibility. Apple CEO Steve Jobs this week insisted that his company has never tracked anyone, despite evidence that suggests otherwise.

Telling already mindful consumers to be more cautious in their credit card transactions and mobile device usage borders on the ridiculous. If Apple, Sony, banks, hotels and online businesses can't protect their customers' data, what are customers supposed to do?

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., were right to hold Jobs' feet to the fire. Each sent letters to the Apple CEO this week asking all the right ethical questions:

•Why does Apple collect and compile location data?

•Why did Apple choose to initiate tracking?

•Does Apple believe its conduct is permissible under the terms of its privacy policy?

•To whom, if anyone, including Apple, have the data been disclosed?

•When and why were these disclosures made?

•Is Apple doing anything to protect minors from the harm that could occur if the data fell into the wrong hands?

These questions raise another critical but obvious one: What steps, if any, should the government take to protect Americans' privacy? As technology develops, the ethical quagmires grow, and Americans continue to be put in the position of playing defense.

The data is collected from cell towers and Wi-Fi hot spots, which provide only the general location of users. But that's no solace to consumers worried about privacy. Even more troubling: The data continued to be stored on the devices even when users turned off the location services.

Google, too, admitted that it has collected such data. Police, it turns out, have been using the data in crime-solving. But what about unscrupulous people who may get access to the information?

On Wednesday, Jobs blamed the situation on "bugs" in Apple's mobile devices, which he promised to correct with a free software update in the next few weeks.

Even though Jobs was slow to respond to consumer outrage, he took responsibility and held out a possible solution. But what if senators and others hadn't spoken out?

Americans can't afford to sit back and wait for the next breach. More must be done to safeguard consumer privacy. It appears that leading technology companies cannot police themselves, so government-based solutions may be necessary.