A push notification is a notification sent to your phone delivered from an app installed on the device. As Wyden explains, these notifications must go through a “digital post office” run by Apple and Google for iOS and Android respectively. In his missive to the DOJ, the senator writes, “Because Apple and Google deliver push notification data, they can be secretly compelled by governments to hand over this information.”
Push notifications on iOS 17.1.2
The information that Senator Wyden fears that Apple and Google could be forced to turn over to the foreign government agencies includes how individual smartphone users interact with certain apps, and a notification’s complete text along with unencrypted content. Wyden wants the DOJ to allow Apple and Google to be completely honest about the demands they receive from foreign governments for information from push notifications.
Both Apple and Google were appreciative of Senator Wyden’s letter and said that push notification surveillance has been taking place for some time. Apple went so far as to admit that the government would not allow the company to disclose that it received requests for push notification data but said that it would start sharing this information with users.
Google also admitted that push notification surveillance is a “thing” and said that it agreed with Senator Wyden’s “commitment to keeping users informed about these requests.” Google’s transparency report already posts government requests for push notification data.
