The Korea Communications Commission said Thursday that it plans on sending a questionnaire to Google Inc. involving the collection of location information of its smartphone users here.

The event takes place a few days after the state media and telecommunications regulator launched an investigation against Apple Inc. on Monday over collection of information of its smartphone users.

In a questionnaire, it had asked the company to clarify the duration and regularity of the location information stored on the iPhone and if people could opt not to store the information or delete it.

Apple is expected to soon provide the answers, KCC officials said.

The KCC also said that it would introduce a new system that enables people to download mobile applications without hesitation by giving government pre-authorization beginning in October as a measure designed to beef up privacy protection.

It will analyze the source code of the application before it is registered on the online app market and grant an authorization mark if it is deemed to be safe for the consumers.

“Getting the app authorized is not a mandatory requirement, however, it will be helpful for both consumers and the app developers,” said a KCC official.

On Wednesday, the police launched an investigation against three representatives of online mobile advertising firms who allegedly distributed the location information of 800,000 smartphone users without getting their permission.


By Cho Ji-hyun
(sharon@heraldcorp.com)