Google and Apple Invited To Testify At Mobile-Phone Privacy Hearing (GOOG, AAPL)

Two of the technology industry's top companies, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), are invited to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on May 10th to testify concerning mobile-phone privacy.Recent concerns have been raised regarding the privacy among Google's Android OS and Apple's iPhone. According to Bloomberg, Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy explained, “Like many Americans, I read with deep concern recent press reports indicating that the devices collect, store and track user location data without the user's consent.” Congress is considering updating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and other federal privacy laws, and in order to make changes, the Senate Judiciary Committee needs to know the exact capabilities and limitations of the smartphone. This morning, Apple addressed the issue by making a statement, insisting that it is not tracking users' locations and has plans to reduce the amount of data stored by iPhones. Google spokesman Chris Gaither explains, “We provide users with notice and control over the collection, sharing and use of location. Any location data that is sent back to Google location servers is made anonymous and is not tied or traceable to a specific user.”Apple and Google both felt an initial backlash; however, both companies experienced immediate and significant growth after the media buzz. Apple remains to be the apple of investors' eyes and has returned to prior steady-growth levels. Google was not as lucky, dropping lower before increasing, but still hasn't recovered. This afternoon, Apple was trading at $350.67 and Google traded at $536.88.