Apple publishes law enforcement data request report

Apple is right about privacy and I’m pleased at least one big tech firm is bothering to try

Apple has published the latest edition of its regular transparency report that shares information concerning data requests from governments and other agencies across the world.

Apple and the watchmen

The information provides some form of snapshot into how actively governments are investigating groups and individuals using Apple’s devices, though it is not a complete account given that various third-party tools exist that side-step any security the company provides.

Tools from NSO Group and others now seem to be regularly used (possibly, abused) by governments.

This is perhaps why Apple claims the number of requests in 2H 2020 fell to just under half in comparison with 2019. The company says data was requested for 83,307 devices and that it provided the information 77% of the time.

The league tables of investigation

Germany made many requests, asking about 16,819 devices. China wanted information from 11,372 devices, up from 851 in 2019. But, of course, it was the US that really went to town, targeting as many as 24,499 accounts.

Apple also confirms it has received and met requests for customer iCloud data in certain circumstances. It is important I think to note that data stored in iCloud Drive is not end-to-end encrypted.

[Also read: How to use Hide My Email in iCloud+ to protect your privacy]

You can read the latest report here.

Reports for earlier periods are available on Apple’s website here. These twice-yearly publications now cover every year since and including 2013. The reports for 1H 2021 won’t appear until spring.

Glancing through, a lot on fraud

The Apple site also reveals a little more detail pertaining to requests in each country, including several investigations concerning App Store and iTunes fraud in the US and requests under treaty from the US in support of allies.

It’s all interesting reading, but as mentioned above should be seen as a barometer of such activity, given the existence of alternative tools with which to access such information.

Beyond government requests and its controversial CSAM plans, Apple continues to fight to protect user privacy.

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