14 DAY TRIAL // Apple refused to remove several iPhone and iPad applications from its App Store, which allow retrieving the personal details of Lebanese citizens from their telephone numbers and car license plates.
The applications, called "Lebanon Directory" and "Lebanon Cars Directory" were released at the beginning of October by a company called Double U sal.
"Lebanon Directory" allows users to find the names associated with Lebanese telephone numbers (both mobile and landine).
Such lookup services are available in many countries, usually for a fee, but information like the one exposed by "Lebanon Cars Directory" is not.
From a license plate, this app is capable of returning a car owner's full name, marital status, complete home address, financial debt status, landline phone number, as well as the names of their father and their spouse.
It's believed that this data is queried from databases stolen from the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Telecommunications during previous years.
There are reports according to which such files have been circulating on the Internet since at least 2007. It seems that now someone has decided to monetize it through iPhone and iPad apps.
Le Commerce du Levant quotes [Google translation] a lawyer named Michael Kadige, according to whom, there are no data protection provisions in the Lebanese penal code.
He does note, however, that this information belongs to the government and the conditions of its use are covered by property laws.
Meanwhile, Blogging Beirut cites Dr. Toni Issa, president the Beirut Bar Association's IT Committee, who claims that the use of such data by entities other than police or judicial authorities, constitutes a violation of Lebanese consumer protection and intellectual property legislation.
The blog also published replies from Apple employees to abuse reports regarding the apps. One is signed by Jim, iTunes Store senior advisor, and reads:
"None of the Apps violate any of Apple's policies. You can contact the developer(s) of those Applications as Apple is the third party in this case.
"If you find that there is an application on the App Store that is infringing your rights, or violating people's privacy, please contact our legal team at to work with them on this matter."
Meanwhile, the apps remain online and Apple continues to earn money by serving as an intermediary for what is most likely stolen personal information.
There is also a Facebook application called Lebtel, which passes itself as a "Lebanese reverse lookup directory" and seems to be using the same data.
