Government Surveillance: Apple and Google's Push Notification Spying Exposed

Unspecified governments have been requesting mobile push notification records from Apple and Google users, potentially allowing them to spy on individuals of interest, according to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. Push notifications pass through the infrastructure of Apple and Google, giving the companies visibility into how their customers use apps and the ability to provide this information to governments. Both Apple and Google have confirmed receiving such requests, but the information about these practices is restricted from public release by the U.S. government, raising concerns about transparency. The U.S. is among the governments seeking notification data, and Apple and Google have been urged to disclose whether they facilitate this practice, publish aggregate statistics about demands received, and notify specific customers about data requests.