Tag: selling personal data for profit

      Sex Offender App Is Back

      August 11, 2009 /

      Offender Locator in action.This is getting a little absurd. The latest in a string of controversial apps in the app store, Offender Locator, has somehow made it back into the App Store today. You’ll recall, no doubt, that the was pulled, supposedly because it violates several states’ laws regarding selling personal information for profit, whether those people are sex offenders or not.

      Well now that same app is back, available for the original $.99. This just throws more fuel on the speculative fire with regard to Apple’s approval process. Why in god’s name would they pull the app, just to throw it back up? Seemingly nothing has changed, including the major issue, which is the price. Had the developer cut the price out, there would be no question, and they could probably still make loads of money from advertisements. At this point I just want someone to step up and tell us what the hell is going on. Pretty sure that someone won’t be anyone from Apple.

      Apple, iPhone

      Offender Locator Officially Pulled

      August 10, 2009 /

      Offender Locator app.Remember Offender Locator, the app that asked you to pay to search for registered sex offenders in your area? Apparently Apple realized the app was on the south side of reason (and legality for that matter) and pulled the app. Offender Locator had been one of the Top 10 paid apps during its stay in the App Store.

      The application developers are apparently planning to sue Apple over the removal, but I’m not sure what exactly they’re after. The law is pretty clear on this matter for most states – you can’t sell personal information for profit, regardless of just how sketchy they might be. If anyone’s within their rights to sue, it’s the sex offenders exploited for the developer’s profits. Imagine the uproar that could cause. Sex offenders sue for a couple million bucks and win, all because some idiot took a free system that has its public uses and tried to turn a buck.

      Apple, Apps, iPhone, News

      Selling Criminal Data For Profit? There’s An App For That

      July 26, 2009 /

      Offender Locator app.There’s a new app on the Top Paid list this week, one that raises some pretty serious ethical questions. The app is called Offender Locator, and allows iPhone users to access the registered sex offender database from all 50 states, displaying the offenders’ locations, pictures, and all sorts of other personal data.

      This data is all publicly available. In fact, it’s required nationwide to be freely accessible. That’s where the problems begin. The app is in the Top Paid category because it costs $.99. Not a whopping amount to pay for a little peace of mind, particularly if you’re a parent. But what of selling criminal data for profit?

      That’s illegal in several states. Certainly the developer could argue that they’re being paid for a means to access that data, but even an uncreative wordsmith could punch holes in that defense. I’d expect a complete shitstorm around this one. The only question left – double butter or kettle corn?

      Apps, iPhone, Mobile, News

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