Apple Publishes Report Revealing US Govt Info Requests Exceed All Other Countries Combined

Photo Credit: Aly Song /ReutersApple has published its first report revealing the number and type of requests for information about users and devices from governments around the world, showing the US dominating the requests.

The report (pdf), published on the company’s website on Tuesday, complained about US restrictions on what it could reveal and promised customers that Apple did its best to protect personal data.

“We have no interest in amassing personal information about our customers,” the company said. “We protect personal conversations by providing end-to-end encryption over iMessage and FaceTime. We do not store location data, Maps searches, or Siri requests in any identifiable form.”

Of 31 countries listed, the US outweighed all other governments combined in seeking information about more than 2,000 accounts, followed by Britain with 141, Spain with 104 and Germany with 93. Canada, China and Norway each made six requests.

Apple complained that US restrictions prevented it from disclosing the precise number of national security orders and number of accounts affected by such orders. Figures for the US were given within ranges of 1,000. It said: “We strongly oppose this gag order, and Apple has made the case for relief from these restrictions in meetings and discussions with the White House, the US attorney general, congressional leaders and the courts.”

Read more from this story HERE.