Telstra to stop tracking Next G customers’ web browsing history

Telstra would stop tracking Next G customers' web browsing history and sending that data to the US, following criticism from the public regarding privacy issues.

It came to light yesterday, that the company had been tracking URLs visited by customers, and sending that data to US-based filtering company Netsweeper to build a database of sites for a new cyber safety tool called Smart Controls.

Smart Controls allows blocking of certain sites on Telstra mobiles whose owners have signed up for the service.

The company yesterday said that it was not sending any customer information along with the URL information; however, several users had voiced concern that information was being sent without their prior knowledge to the US, where the Patriot Act gives the government access to data hosted there.

Telstra today announced that it would stop tracking customer data following customer concerns.

"We are stopping all collection of website addresses for the development of this new product," Telstra said in a statement.