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The investigation reveals how Apple and Google became tools of international intelligence.
US Senator Ron Wyden has warned that foreign governments are spying on smartphone users, demanding that Apple and Google provide data on push notifications. That information is contained in a letter he sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday.
Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said that his office analyzed information about the requirements of government agencies for Apple and Google to provide data. Because push notifications, including news alerts, emails, and social media notifications, are transmitted through these companies servers, they can reveal unique information about how people use different apps.
According to Wyden, the authorities have the ability to require Apple and Google to provide records, as well as other user data. However, in the US, information about push notification records cannot be publicly disclosed.
Push notification records can reveal which app the notification was sent to, when it was received, which phone and which Apple or Google account it was delivered to, and sometimes the unencrypted text of the notification.
Wyden did not specify which governments requested data on push notifications from Apple and Google.
According to Reuters, foreign government agencies, as well as US agencies, requested information from Google and Apple from push notifications. For example, agencies have requested metadata that can help link anonymous messenger users to specific Apple and Google accounts.
An Apple representative said that initially the federal government imposed a ban on the dissemination of any information from the company. However, given that this practice has become known to the public, Apple plans to update its transparency report to include data on such requests.
A Google spokesperson said the company shares Wyden's desire to inform people about requests for push notification data. Google was the first major company to publish a transparency report outlining the number and types of government requests for user data, including those mentioned by Senator Wyden. The company did not specify where exactly it publishes requests for information about push notifications.
US Senator Ron Wyden has warned that foreign governments are spying on smartphone users, demanding that Apple and Google provide data on push notifications. That information is contained in a letter he sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday.
Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said that his office analyzed information about the requirements of government agencies for Apple and Google to provide data. Because push notifications, including news alerts, emails, and social media notifications, are transmitted through these companies servers, they can reveal unique information about how people use different apps.
According to Wyden, the authorities have the ability to require Apple and Google to provide records, as well as other user data. However, in the US, information about push notification records cannot be publicly disclosed.
Push notification records can reveal which app the notification was sent to, when it was received, which phone and which Apple or Google account it was delivered to, and sometimes the unencrypted text of the notification.
Wyden did not specify which governments requested data on push notifications from Apple and Google.
According to Reuters, foreign government agencies, as well as US agencies, requested information from Google and Apple from push notifications. For example, agencies have requested metadata that can help link anonymous messenger users to specific Apple and Google accounts.
An Apple representative said that initially the federal government imposed a ban on the dissemination of any information from the company. However, given that this practice has become known to the public, Apple plans to update its transparency report to include data on such requests.
A Google spokesperson said the company shares Wyden's desire to inform people about requests for push notification data. Google was the first major company to publish a transparency report outlining the number and types of government requests for user data, including those mentioned by Senator Wyden. The company did not specify where exactly it publishes requests for information about push notifications.
