Yahoo –AFP, 5 November 2013
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| An Apple store on July 23, 2013 in New York City (AFP Photo/Spencer Platt) |
Washington
(AFP) - Apple on Tuesday released details of government requests for its data
while protesting a "gag order" that limits what can be disclosed
about US national security orders.
The iPhone
and iPad maker followed the lead of other US tech giants and released its first
report on requests from governments around the world.
Most of the
requests involve criminal investigations into "robberies and other crimes
or requests from law enforcement officers searching for missing persons or
children, finding a kidnapping victim, or hoping to prevent a suicide,"
Apple said in a seven-page document.
In the
United States, Apple said, "the US government has given us permission to
share only a limited amount of information about these orders, with the
requirement that we combine national security orders with account-based law
enforcement requests and report only a consolidated range in increments of
1000."
The
document said Apple received between 1,000 and 2,000 US government requests
between January 1 and June 30 of this year, affecting between 2,000 and 3,000
accounts.
It was
unable to provide details on how much, if any, data was disclosed, saying this
happened in a range of zero to 1,000 cases.
"We
strongly oppose this gag order," the document said, adding that Apple has
been pressing for greater ability to disclose the figures.
"Despite
our extensive efforts in this area, we do not yet have an agreement that we
feel adequately addresses our customers' right to know how often and under what
circumstances we provide data to law enforcement agencies."
Apple added
that "dialogue and advocacy are the most productive way to bring about a
change in these policies, rather than filing a lawsuit against the US
government."
But the
company said it filed an amicus brief with the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court in support of others seeking greater transparency.
Apple said
that it has never received a request under the controversial Section 215 of the
Patriot Act, which gives the government broad electronic surveillance
authority, and added that "we would expect to challenge such an order if
served on us."
Outside the
United States, Apple said it received several hundred requests, including 127
in Britain, 102 in Spain, 93 in Germany, 74 in Australia and 71 in France.
"We
have reported all the information we are legally allowed to share, and Apple
will continue to advocate for greater transparency about the requests we
receive," the statement said.
The report
comes with US tech companies under pressure following revelations of a secret
government program that scoops up vast amounts of data from Internet firms.
Tech firms
including Microsoft, Google and Facebook have been seeking to release more
information on government data requests, in the belief this would reassure
customers.
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