Following our posts last week concerning the lawsuit against iPhone game developer Storm8 that alleged they used private API's to violate user privacy by collecting their phone numbers, the developer, Storm8, contacted TiPb with their side of the story:

I just saw your post on the iPhone blog that discusses Storm 8 and the Unity games issue, and I wanted to make sure that you saw the statement that we put out to our users outlining the proactive steps we’ve taken to address concerns so it can inform your coverage. This includes updating the applications in August so that current game versions do not download, store or use iPhone telephone numbers when a game is opened.

They further pointed us to a statement they issued on their community forum.

If this issue concerns you, take a read and let us know what you think.

[Updated: Storm8 didn't use the Unity-engine, but they did allegedly use the private API's that allowed access]

The Register is reporting that a lawsuit has been filed against an iPhone game developer for privacy violations:

The complaint claims best-selling games made by Storm8 contained secret code that bypassed safeguards built into the iPhone to prevent the unauthorized snooping of user information. [...] to access, collect, and transmit the wireless phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games are installed," states the complaint, which was filed in US District Court in Northern California. "Storm8 does so or has done so in all of its games." [...] [including] World War, iMobsters, Racing Live, Vampires Live, Kingdoms Live, Zombies Live, and Rockstars Live.

The complaint claims they're violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and is seeking Class Action status. It's not the first time we've heard about apps violating user privacy, hopefully Apple's new iPhone security manager will first and foremost focus on these types of exploits. And, yeah, let the courts smite any abusive developers in the meantime...

[via Wabbit in the TiPb forums]