Some Android phones have been calling home – to China.  Don't worry; it's only some, "only" 120,000 Americans who have had "the full contents of text messages, contact lists, call logs, location information and other data [sent] to a Chinese server."  And why should they care?  It's probably just used to sell advertising.

"The American authorities say it is not clear whether this represents secretive data mining for advertising purposes or a Chinese government effort to collect intelligence."  Hmmm...that puts a different light on it.  But you have nothing to hide from the Chicoms, right?

Besides, it was a mistake, a "feature" intended only for the Chinese market.  And the company that wrote the code, Adups, is not connected with the Chinese government.  Of course not.  Spying on Chinese citizens?  Sure, any company in China can do that without consulting its masters in Beijing.  Oh, and BLU, the U.S. company using the tainted chips, has fixed the problem.  Nothing to worry about.  Even better, Adups has erased all the data.  Honest.  Probably used Hillary's crack team.

There is a piece of really good news in all this: Jeh Johnson's own Dept. of Homeland Security is on the case:

Marsha Catron, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agency "was recently made aware of the concerns discovered by Kryptowire and is working with our public and private sector partners to identify appropriate mitigation strategies."

"Made aware ... concerns ... working with ... partners ... appropriate mitigation" – sorry, nodded off there, lulled to sleep by Marsha's sonorous, soothing, soporific prose.  Why do I sense no urgency from this spokeswoman for DHS?  I must be growing cynical.

Henry Percy is the nom de guerre of a writer in Arizona. He may be reached at saler.50d[at]gmail.com.