The Democrat says a software company has failed to address concerns about what information it's collecting from mobile phone users and how it's using that data.

Al Franken has connections in both Hollywood and Silicon Valley, which makes the issue of how to protect intellectual property online a thorny one for him. That comes across in his recent message to supporters on the topic.

In a statement, Franken said a merger of the cell phone giants would have resulted in "higher cell phone bills for Minnesotans, greatly reduced competition, the potential loss of thousands of jobs, and less innovation in technology."

Sen. Al Franken says he is co-sponsoring a low-income energy assistance bill to help families pay their utility costs. Franken says funding has dropped despite high demand, adding he expects the measure to pass since both Republicans and Democrats get cold.

Sen. Al Franken wants Facebook to be more upfront about its facial recognition technology and how it plans to use it. Franken grilled a company executive at a Capitol Hill hearing. Facebook has an estimated 60 billion pictures of people, the world's largest photo database.

Current cell phone contracts often prohibit users from filing lawsuits. That means anyone with a complaint can only settle it through arbitration. Democratic Sens. Al Franken and Richard Blumenthal say that doesn't always give cell phone users enough protection.

The legislation is meant to help homeowners refinance their mortgages to keep their homes and save money. Sen. Al Franken says "the federal government should be making it easier to refinance, not creating additional hurdles." The Minnesota Democrat plans to introduce the legislation on Monday.

The U.S. Senate is nearing a vote on whether to extend the current payroll tax into next year. Sen. Al Franken says not renewing would create $1,000 in additional taxes for the average Minnesota family. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann says the tax cuts have punched a hole in the federal budget and threaten programs like Social Security.