Apple blocks governments from accessing your phone's notifications

Apple blocks governments from accessing your phone's notifications

Apple now requires law enforcement to obtain a court order before the company hands over customer push notification data, bringing the iPhone maker's policy in line with that of rival Google.

The company has updated its guidelines on its law enforcement page with language specifying this, and the new policy comes in the wake of revelations that both Apple and Google provided details regarding notices to governments.

Senator Ron Wyden revealed that officials were requesting such data from Apple and Google.

Applications of all kinds rely on instant notifications in order to alert smartphone users of incoming messages, breaking news, and other updates.

Apps send notifications, such as an incoming text message or email, to your phone in order to alert you even when the app itself is not open.

“The process of sending notifications includes potentially sensitive information that apps share with Apple and Google, including metadata detailing which app sent a notification and when it sent that notification, as well as the phone and the Apple or Google account associated with it,” Wyden wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Who received this notice?

Wyden's letter informed the US Department of Justice that his office was investigating whether foreign governments had forced Apple and Google to hand over personal details from smartphone notifications.

Wyden explained that both companies admitted this happened, and later confirmed it to the media.

Apple indicated that the federal government prevented it from publishing the requests, and the company said: “Now that this method has become public, we are updating the transparency reports in order to clarify these types of requests.”

Google has a policy that requires a court order to hand over push notification data, and Wyden said: “Apple is doing the right thing by going along with Google and demanding a court order to hand over push notification data.”

In his letter, Wyden asked the Justice Department to rescind or modify any policies that prevent companies from being transparent about the legal demands they receive, especially from foreign governments.

Google is adding information regarding demands such as those mentioned by Wyden in its transparency reports.

US law enforcement authorities sought the same information, though Wyden specifically mentioned foreign governments.

It is noteworthy that it is not always necessary for applications to add identifying details when sending instant notifications, as the encrypted messaging application Signal is careful not to include data that can be linked to the user’s account or device when sending instant notifications.

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