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Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

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Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#61
post #51

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

There are interviews were Tim Cook states the range of warrant requests (he isn't allowed to tell the exact numbers): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmm5faI_mLo Seemingly, they also have some sort of canary in place in case they get secret requests under the patriot act: http://boingboing.net/2013/11/05/apple-hides-a-patriot-act-b...

If you look at the transparency reports, only the report for the first half of 2013 includes that canary (specifically mentioning Section 215).

It was removed for the latter half of 2013, and this just-released first half of 2014 report.

Take that as you will.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#62
post #30

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

>If they provide user-data after being served with a warrant their servers were never accessed, yet the data was provided. Yes, that's true. But if you run an email service that's based in Cupertino, what do you do when served with a lawful search warrant or wiretap order? Say "no," and be found in contempt of court and have all your servers carted away by some men in black so they can find the file they're looking f…

There's no reason the refusal to store warrant-worthy data or to use end-to-end encryption would prevent men in black from carting away all your servers. In fact, it might very well increase the likelihood of them doing so.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#63

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

I find it amusing that people are being outraged at Apple, instead of being outraged at their government. From outside the US, it looks like it became generally accepted that the NSA will spy on US citizens all it wants, unchecked, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Instead, all the rage is getting directed at companies that disclose the information to NSA.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#64
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to see a breakdown of exactly what they can provide with a device request and an account request. I think that would be reasonable information to share, because it'd educate both law enforcement and the general public about what data is available from their devices. Plus it'd settle the issue of word games- or at least bring it closer to being settled in my eyes. We can't get a good idea of what is going on…

http://images.apple.com/privacy/docs/legal-process-guideline... Page 4 onwards provides a list of information they provide to law enforcement agencies. Probably prudent if you're an apple customer to simply assume all of this information is as good as public.

Law enforcement access is not the same as public access. I think it is extremely important to make that distinction. And there is one.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#65
post #63

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

I find it amusing that people are being outraged at Apple, instead of being outraged at their government. From outside the US, it looks like it became generally accepted that the NSA will spy on US citizens all it wants, unchecked, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Instead, all the rage is getting directed at companies that disclose the information to NSA.

[deleted]

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#66
Finally those numbers of iPhone activation and mac sold are useful.

#1 Mac unit sales

http://www.macworld.com/article/2062821/apple-by-the-numbers...

2010 @ 13662k

2011 @ 16735k

2012 @ 18158k

2013 @ 16341k

Total = 64,896,000

#2 iPhone unit sales

http://www.statista.com/statistics/232790/forecast-of-apple-...

I only take the number from 2013 & 2014 because Apple trend to upgrade fast.

2013 @ 53.6 Million,

2014 @ 63.2 Million,

Total = 116,800,000

Now, quote from "Government Information Requests"

"less than 0.00385% of customers had data disclosed due to government information requests."

Only 699529.6 round to 699529 customers had data disclosed.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#67
post #66

Finally those numbers of iPhone activation and mac sold are useful. #1 Mac unit sales http://www.macworld.com/article/2062821/apple-by-the-numbers... 2010 @ 13662k 2011 @ 16735k 2012 @ 18158k 2013 @ 16341k Total = 64,896,000 #2 iPhone unit sales http://www.statista.com/statistics/232790/forecast-of-apple-... I only take the number from 2013 & 2014 because Apple trend to upgrade fast. 2013 @ 53.6 Million, 2014 @ 63.2…

[deleted]

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#68
post #30

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

>If they provide user-data after being served with a warrant their servers were never accessed, yet the data was provided. Yes, that's true. But if you run an email service that's based in Cupertino, what do you do when served with a lawful search warrant or wiretap order? Say "no," and be found in contempt of court and have all your servers carted away by some men in black so they can find the file they're looking f…

Open source client libraries providing end-to-end encryption and zero knowledge search, would enable a functional e-mail system that operates without any server held keys.

You could still NSL a backdoor, but if the service is open source at least there's a chance of the code being audited.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#69
post #63

Yet no comment from them about what being a "provider" under PRISM entails. * "In addition, Apple has never worked with any government agency from any country to create a “back door” in any of our products or services." If Apple provides an interface to request user-data to law enforcement / NSA, that's not a back door in the product or the service . * "We have also never allowed any government access to our servers.…

I find it amusing that people are being outraged at Apple, instead of being outraged at their government. From outside the US, it looks like it became generally accepted that the NSA will spy on US citizens all it wants, unchecked, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Instead, all the rage is getting directed at companies that disclose the information to NSA.

Often it seems like the people want businesses to take up the fight for privacy, rather than the people themselves.

Re: Apple – Privacy – Government Information Requests

#70
post #66

Finally those numbers of iPhone activation and mac sold are useful. #1 Mac unit sales http://www.macworld.com/article/2062821/apple-by-the-numbers... 2010 @ 13662k 2011 @ 16735k 2012 @ 18158k 2013 @ 16341k Total = 64,896,000 #2 iPhone unit sales http://www.statista.com/statistics/232790/forecast-of-apple-... I only take the number from 2013 & 2014 because Apple trend to upgrade fast. 2013 @ 53.6 Million, 2014 @ 63.2…

Didn't know that many.
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