Home
Apple released information on the US authorities requests for user data: the tech giant was asked for user data more than 1,000 times during the last 6 months of 2015. The requests target information on such Apple services as iMessages, emails, photos and device backups.
Of course, the number of requests grows as the time passes. During the first half of 2015, Apple received 971 requests, during the last six months of 2014 ¬– 788 requests. The company provided at least some data in response to more than 4/5 of the requests. This is about average for the California tech firm. However, the number of users affected by those requests in late 2015 was about the same as it was in 2014.
Transparency reports have become a common practice after the loud Snowden disclosures and are now released by all prominent technology companies every six months. Apple’s report attracts particular attention due to its recent fight with the FBI over hacking into the locked iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter.
It should be noted that according to the figures, investigators are adapting to a world where people spend less time on landline telephones that could be tapped through a phone company. The tech giant received significantly fewer requests during the second half of 2013. At the same time, there’s still a lot of data on Apple devices that the phone maker can’t access – for example, iMessage, email, contact lists and diaries, which can all be backed up to an iCloud account. In case of need in this data, investigators go to Apple. Apple says that requests for user content must be backed by a search warrant. In addition, the company always notifies targeted customers of such requests if legally allowed to do so.
The tech giant had to admit that it was increasingly facing secretive national security requests for user data, which usually come with a gag order or are classified. So, over the last 6 months of 2015, the US government made 1,250 to 1,499 national security requests affecting 1,000 to 1,249 accounts.
sourced from torrentfreak
Of course, the number of requests grows as the time passes. During the first half of 2015, Apple received 971 requests, during the last six months of 2014 ¬– 788 requests. The company provided at least some data in response to more than 4/5 of the requests. This is about average for the California tech firm. However, the number of users affected by those requests in late 2015 was about the same as it was in 2014.
Transparency reports have become a common practice after the loud Snowden disclosures and are now released by all prominent technology companies every six months. Apple’s report attracts particular attention due to its recent fight with the FBI over hacking into the locked iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter.
It should be noted that according to the figures, investigators are adapting to a world where people spend less time on landline telephones that could be tapped through a phone company. The tech giant received significantly fewer requests during the second half of 2013. At the same time, there’s still a lot of data on Apple devices that the phone maker can’t access – for example, iMessage, email, contact lists and diaries, which can all be backed up to an iCloud account. In case of need in this data, investigators go to Apple. Apple says that requests for user content must be backed by a search warrant. In addition, the company always notifies targeted customers of such requests if legally allowed to do so.
The tech giant had to admit that it was increasingly facing secretive national security requests for user data, which usually come with a gag order or are classified. So, over the last 6 months of 2015, the US government made 1,250 to 1,499 national security requests affecting 1,000 to 1,249 accounts.
sourced from torrentfreak