Apple iPhone tracking news has Republicans calling for more regulation

After reports last week that Apple’s iPhones and 3G iPads have been tracking users’ movements and storing that data, there’s been some letters flowing from Congress. The latest one is from Republicans in the House, where calls for deregulation usually reign. But, House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters on Monday asking Apple, Google, Research In Motion, Nokia and HP asking “how long their devices store data, which laws apply to the companies, and whether the companies are planning to implement measures to alleviate privacy concerns.” They want answers by May 9. That’s one day before Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) holds a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Privacy subpanel. Franken has asked Apple and Google representatives to come and testify. For its part, Google has said Android users are notified about this kind of tracking have control over their data. Plus, any data Google gets is anonymous. Apple has yet to comment.

Meanwhile, Apple has a class action law suit on its hands over the matter

And, MacRumors reports on an email the site received from Steve Jobs saying the news is “false.”