Foreign Government Agencies Demand Push Notification Data
According to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Apple and Google have been restricted from disclosing if foreign government officials have compelled them to share users' push notification data for investigations. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Wyden urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow the tech giants to inform their customers and the public about demands for smartphone app notification records.
Tip Received by Senator Wyden
Wyden's office received a tip last year indicating that foreign government agencies were demanding push notification data from Apple and Google. When contacted, the companies stated that the US government had prohibited them from revealing information about this practice to the public.
Response from Apple and Google
Apple and Google have yet to respond to requests for comment. However, Apple informed Reuters that Wyden's letter enabled them to publicly comment on the matter. The company stated that the federal government had barred them from sharing any information, but now that the practice has become public, they will update their transparency reporting to include these types of requests.
Updated Apple Law Enforcement Guidelines
Following their statement, Apple reportedly updated its Law Enforcement Guidelines to clarify that a user's Apple ID can be obtained with a subpoena or greater legal process. This update emphasizes the company's compliance with legal demands.
Push Notifications and Intermediaries
Push notifications are not delivered directly to smartphone users; instead, they pass through a "digital post office" operated by the phone's operating system provider, as mentioned in Wyden's letter. When users enable push notifications, Apple and Google create tokens that connect their devices to the identifying information they have provided to the companies. This process ensures efficient and timely delivery of notifications, but it also means that Apple and Google act as intermediaries in the transmission process.
DOJ Should Permit Information Sharing
Senator Wyden's letter calls for the DOJ to allow Apple and Google to share information about legal demands they receive, particularly from foreign governments. It also suggests that specific users should be informed about demands for their data, unless prohibited by a court.
Source: Business Insider
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By: ssheth@businessinsider.com (Sonam Sheth)
Title: Apple and Google Restricted from Sharing Push Notification Data with Users, Says US Lawmaker
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/apple-google-foreign-governments-push-alerts-wyden-letter-2023-12
Published Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:40:11 +0000
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