According to a letter penned by US Senator Ron Wyden to the Justice Department, foreign governments are allegedly utilizing the stored push notification data from Apple and Google to conduct surveillance on users. Wyden argues that these governments are exploiting the information available through these notifications for spying purposes.
US Senator Ron Wyden highlighted that foreign governments have sought push notification data from Google and Apple to conduct user surveillance, although specific nations were not named. Wyden underscored that the US government has imposed limitations on these tech giants from disclosing information regarding this matter. Emphasizing how push notifications contribute to tracking users, Wyden explained that Apple and Google possess unique access to monitor app usage through metadata, detailing notification receipt times and associated accounts. He pointed out that governments could compel these companies to surreptitiously provide such data due to their roles in delivering push notifications. Additionally, while many users overlook it, Reuters highlighted that Google and Apple’s servers facilitate the transmission of push notification data, creating another avenue for potential user surveillance beyond the familiar ‘ding’ sounds users receive from various applications on their smartphones.