DOJ Improperly Obtained Data from Apple
A government report reveals that the Trump-era Department of Justice (DOJ) failed to obtain proper authorization before demanding customer call and message data from Apple and other companies during a leak investigation in 2017. The investigation focused on contacts between Trump associates and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The DOJ used subpoenas and court orders to obtain records from journalists, congressional staffers, and members of Congress. Apple was a primary target of these demands and was subsequently gagged from disclosing the data handover. This gag order remained in effect for up to four years in certain instances.
DOJ also Failed to Obtain Proper Authorization for Gag Orders
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report highlights the DOJ's failure to follow established procedures, including convening the News Media Review Committee and obtaining necessary certifications before demanding data and imposing gag orders. The OIG expressed concern over these failures and emphasized the need to prevent their recurrence.
At the time, Apple resisted the DOJ's demands by implementing a policy limiting the provided data to 25 identifiers per request, excluding photos and email content. For further information on data privacy and security, you can refer to resources like macOS 15.2's new Apple Intelligence features.
Apple maintains transparency by publishing regular reports on data provided to governments worldwide. For more insights into Apple's data practices, you can explore their App Store award winners.