Senator Wyden Investigates Foreign Governments’ Influence on Apple and Google for Notification Data Disclosure

Senator Wyden has notified the U.S. Department of Justice that his office is currently investigating whether foreign governments exerted pressure on Apple and Google to disclose personal details obtained from smartphone notifications. Wyden clarified that both tech giants acknowledged this situation, later confirming it to the media.

Apple, citing federal restrictions, stated that they were prohibited from publicly disclosing these requests and mentioned, “Now that this method is public, we are issuing transparency reports to clarify these types of requests.”

Google, on the other hand, adheres to a policy that necessitates a court order for the release of immediate notification data. Wyden commended Apple for aligning with Google’s approach, insisting on a court order for the delivery of notification-related data.

In his letter to the Department of Justice, Wyden urged a review or modification of any policies hindering companies from being transparent about the legal demands they receive, particularly from foreign governments.

In 2024, Apple is poised to simplify message exchange between iPhones and Android devices. Additionally, Google includes information about demands similar to those mentioned by Wyden in its transparency reports.

While U.S. law enforcement sought similar information, Wyden specifically highlighted the involvement of foreign governments. It’s important to note that applications aren’t always mandated to include identifying details when sending immediate notifications. Encrypted messaging app Signal, for instance, ensures that notifications exclude data that can be linked to the user’s account or device.