Path apparently isn't the only one grabbing address book information from iPhone users. The practice is so widespread that it's considered the de facto industry standard. After remaining silent for a week, Apple has finally responded: Apps that collect users' address book data without explicit permission are unacceptable, and it will become mandatory for apps to ask for permission before accessing and collecting it, much in the way they do to access location data.

"Apps that collect or transmit a user’s contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines...” Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr told AllThingsD. “We’re working to make this even better for our customers, and as we have done with location services, any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release."

Photo: Sally Crossthwaite