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Carrier IQ is a company that allows wireless carriers, such as AT&T and Sprint Nextel, to monitor how their networks are being used and also track performance. Recently, concerns have been expressed that the company is violating the privacy of mobile phone users. The source of the concerns seem to stem from a patent filed by Carrier IQ, which states that the company is capable of monitoring and recording every keystroke entered into the user’s mobile device. Carrier IQ is just one of the many corporations targeted in privacy violation scandals and it is increasingly difficult for the average consumer to tell whether or not there is actually a violation of privacy involved.

Protecting individual privacy from the powers of government and giant corporations is not a new issue. Many, decades-old staples in science fiction deal with exactly this issue. With advances in technology, however, the Orwellian nightmare society of 1984 creeps ever closer to real possibilities. GPS tracking is a perfect example of how technology can potentially strip people of their privacy. The simple act of buying a modern car or mobile phone can open one up to the possibility of being remotely monitored on a minute-by-minute basis.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen several GPS tracking privacy scandals make their way to headlines. One of the major scandals arose when it became apparent that Apple and Google were monitoring their customers using the smart phone’s built-in GPS tracking ability. After some digging, however, it turned out that the companies were merely tracking where the smart phones were in relation to Wi-Fi networks in the area. The information was used to better the user experience.

Although all of the information has yet to be gathered, the same is likely true of the Carrier IQ scandal. Carriers, such as AT&T, must monitor the user activity within their network in order to navigate the ever-changing needs of customers. There are legitimate reasons for concern, but it’s important not to throw the baby out with the bath water.