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Netizens took to the Web recently to vent, fret and debate news that a hidden app could be tracking their smartphone activity. |
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網友近來紛紛上網表達不滿與焦慮的情緒以及互相爭辯，原因是新聞指出有一個隱藏的應用程式可能監控著他們在智慧型手機上的一舉一動。 |
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Many bloggers and smartphone customers engaged in online hand-wringing over the privacy issues raised by Carrier IQ, an information-mining app secretly installed on many phones. |
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Meanwhile, cooler heads among the tech crowd cautioned against panic, saying some concerns may have been over the top. |
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針對 Carrier IQ 這個偷偷安裝在許多手機上的資訊探勘應用程式所掀起的隱私權問題，許多部落客與智慧型手機的顧客都在網路上辯論不休。另一方面，科技群眾當中較為冷靜的人士，則是告誡眾人毋需驚慌，指稱有些顧慮可能言過其實。 |
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First, a recap: On November 28, researcher and developer Trevor Eckhart posted a 17-minute YouTube video apparently showing how the software -- designed as a diagnostic tool to find and help fix mobile network problems -- runs on his smartphone and logs every keystroke, every text and the full URL of every Web site he visits. |
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首先，概要重述事件經過：十一月二十八日，研發人員崔佛．艾克哈特在 YouTube 網站上發布了一段十七分鐘的影片，顯示該軟體──原本的設計目的是要做為診斷工具，用來找出並協助修正行動網路問題──於他的智慧型手機上執行，並且記錄了他所按的每個按鍵、傳送的每則簡訊以及他造訪的每個網站的完整網址。 |
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News of the app's existence on millions of phones had bounced around on tech blogs for a while. |
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But attention skyrocketed this week when Eckhart posted his video. |
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這個應用程式存在於數百萬支手機上的消息，早就已經在科技部落格上流傳了一段時間。但艾克哈特在本週發布了這段影片之後，這件事情才突然受到高度矚目。 |
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By Thursday of that week, it had turned into a rapidly developing story in which new information seemed to surface hourly. |
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Mobile carriers and smartphone makers rushed to dispute claims made by Eckhart and others who said they confirmed his findings, explain their use of the app or announce that they once used it but plan to get rid of it. |
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到了該週週四，這起事件已然轉變為一則發展迅速的新聞報導，似乎每個小時都有新的資訊浮現。通訊商與智慧型手機製造商紛紛反駁艾克哈特的聲言，以及其他宣稱證實了他的發現的人，解釋他們採用這個應用程式的做法，或宣告他們雖然曾用過這個應用程式，但打算加以捨棄。 |
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By the following Friday, the controversy made its way into the courts. |
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A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Carrier IQ, and phone makers Samsung and HTC, claiming that the app violates customer privacy. |
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到了次週週五，這起爭議已鬧進法院。有人在加州北區地方法院提起訴訟，控告 Carrier IQ 以及手機製造商三星與宏達電，指稱這個應用程式侵犯了顧客的隱私。 |
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"Given our dependence on smartphones, we rely on the assumption that our personal information is protected from third parties," attorney Steve W. Berman said in a written statement. "Yet, it appears that Carrier IQ has violated this trust." |
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「鑒於我們對智慧型手機的依賴，我們必須指望這項假設為真：亦即我們的個人資訊受到保護，不受第三方的取用，」律師史提夫．柏曼在一份書面聲明中指出：「然而，Carrier IQ 顯然違背了這份信任。」 |
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Berman's firm is representing several customers and is seeking to turn the complaint into a class-action lawsuit. |
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柏曼的律師事務所代表數名客戶，企圖將這項控告轉為集體訴訟。 |
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