As famous by 404 Media, Apple has quietly up to date its Transparency Report web page with information from January by means of June 2024, revealing some fascinating traits within the cat-and-mouse recreation between the corporate and worldwide governments relating to our information.
It’s price noting that Appleâs Transparency Report launch schedule has been fairly inconsistent.
Nonetheless, the brand new report, which comes simply three months after Apple launched its information relative to JulyâDecember, 2023, highlights how a lot real-world consumer information Apple is handing over, and the way authorities ways are evolving to get it.
U.S. push-token requests are method up⊠however Apple is usually saying no
One of the crucial controversial disclosures lately has concerned so-called âpush-tokenâ information, which is metadata that may establish which machine obtained a particular notification from which app, and typically even unencrypted message content material.
As 404 Media famous, this situation blew up in late 2023, after Senator Ron Wyden revealed that each Apple and Google had quietly been turning over one of these information. Apple explains why this was saved underneath wraps:
âApple was solely permitted to reveal details about Push Token requests beginning in Transparency Report Interval July 1 â December 31, 2022. Previous to this, Push Token requests had been included in Account and/or Machine request tablesâ
Appleâs newest numbers present a surge in U.S. push-token requests:
- 48 in H1 2023
- 99 in H2 2023
- 129 in H1 2024
Whereas Apple had complied with 88% of U.S. push-token requests in H1 2023, that quantity dropped to 66% in H2 2023, dropping additional to twenty-eight% in H1 2024. In different phrases, within the span of eighteen months, Apple went from approving almost 9 out of 10 requests to barely 1 in 4.
Larger-picture and U.S. included, worldwide push-token requests almost doubled 12 months over 12 months, rising from 158 in H1 2023 to 277 in H1 2024, however Appleâs approval fee dropped from 77% to simply 59%.
Apple didnât elaborate on why, but it surelyâs clear the corporate has change into way more reluctant handy over one of these information, maybe in response to public strain.
U.S. regulation enforcement is asking for far more machine informationâŠ
In simply six months, Apple obtained 12,043 device-data requests from U.S. authorities, with 42,747 whole units specified within the requests. Apple complied with 85% of the requests.
But, this paled in contrast with China, which despatched in 1,212 machine requests however specified a whopping 365,980 units in these requests. Apple complied with 95% of them. Not nice.
âŠhowever geofence warrants are conspicuously gone
In H1 2023, Apple reported 16 geofence warrants from the U.S. Throughout H1 2024? Only one. Apple didnât present information in that case, both, persevering with a observe report of zero compliance on geofence requests because it began breaking them out.
For those whoâre an optimist, this may occasionally counsel investigators are backing away from this extremely controversial method. For those whoâre like me, this may occasionally counsel that investigators can simply get this information (and even higher information) elsewhere.
You possibly can learn the total 2024 H1 Transparency Report right here.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
