A warning letter has recently been issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to 12 Android app developers who have allegedly been using controversial monitoring software - dubbed 'SilverPush' - which can potentially pose threat to users' privacy.

The FTC's warning to Android app developers using the SilverPush monitoring software comes against the backdrop of the fact that the software has the capability to monitor the microphone of a device's microphone, to pick up specific audio signals embedded in an ad on the TV. The software can, thus, generate a comprehensive log of TV content which the device users' were viewing while the device was turned on.

The warning has been issued by the FTC after it found that 12 Android app developers were seemingly using the controversial SilverPush software in their apps.

Asserting that the usage of SilverPush monitoring software by the at-fault Android app developers could mark a potential violation of consumer rights, the FTC has said in its warning letters that the developers need to seek the permission of users in order to use their devices' microphone.

Revealing that the apps created by the 12 Android app developers "were capable of listening in the background and collecting information about consumers without notifying them," Jessica Rich -- the Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection - said: "Companies should tell people what information is collected, how it is collected, and who it's shared with."