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Apple's Latest Transparency Report Includes Geofence Requests From U.S. Government

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Apple today shared a new Transparency Report providing information on customer data requests that the company received from the U.S. government in the first half of 2022.

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For the first time ever, Apple has reported the total number of "geofence requests" that it received from the U.S. government. These requests are meant to include specific latitude and longitudes coordinates for a specified time period, but Apple does not collect this information as part of its commitment to customer privacy, and therefore does not provide it to law enforcement, while fully respecting the legal process.

From the Transparency Report:

Apple may also receive requests from government agencies seeking customer data related to specific latitude and longitudes coordinates (geofence) for a specified time period. Apple does not have any data to provide in response to geofence requests.

For additional information, the Transparency Report is available on Apple's website as a PDF.

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Top Rated Comments

F23 Avatar
F23
33 months ago
this is why I am an Apple sheep
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
JamesHolden
33 months ago
It’s great to have confirmation that Apple does not collect this data. However, I’m sure the cell service providers are more than happy to turn it over, so I’m not sure it matters whether Apple collects it or not.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
cocky jeremy
33 months ago
Haha. Sorry, screw you, FBI.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crawfish963 Avatar
crawfish963
33 months ago

It’s great to have confirmation that Apple does not collect this data. However, I’m sure the cell service providers are more than happy to turn it over, so I’m not sure it matters whether Apple collects it or not.
Not so much that they are happy to. They have to as geofence requests require a search warrant. But sometimes cell providers object to large geofence areas with tens of thousands of devices within the zone.


Source: am retired detective who wrote/served these warrants
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrTemple Avatar
MrTemple
33 months ago

It’s great to have confirmation that Apple does not collect this data. However, I’m sure the cell service providers are more than happy to turn it over, so I’m not sure it matters whether Apple collects it or not.
Oh yeah, and more. Data that's illegal for law enforcement to collect is legal for corporations to collect and sell to LEOs. 🙃
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crawfish963 Avatar
crawfish963
33 months ago

Ok, I’m sure none of these companies are “happy” to turn over anything! That said, and you no doubt can tell me if I’m wrong, the cell providers have all the geofence info, so whether Apple collects it or not, someone does…
I doubt Apple does. I’ve looked at a lot of data from warrants to Apple. Before E2E encryption it was a lot of data. Since E2E it’s almost nothing. Almost not even worth writing a warrant anymore. Apple definitely locks down stuff. Google on the other hand…

Really cell tower data is the go-to for geolocation. Google will also have a lot of GPS data.

Also most LE agencies now just go to seize the phone and use a tool like Graykey or Cellebrite Premium to get into the phone and pull geo data from that. I was previously on a task force for an alphabet agency and used those tools. Once into the phone almost everything is available to police.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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