Apple sees sharp increase in US national security requests.
Apple reported in a transparency report that it received up to 16.249 national security requests affecting up to 8.249 accounts during the second half of 2017. The number of requests increased by 20 percent compared to the first half of 2017, when Apple received 13.499 such requests.
(Reuters)- Apple released its semi-annual transparency report on government data requests on Friday, showing another sharp increase in requests related to U.S. national security.
Apple reported receiving up to 16.249 national security requests affecting up to 8.249 accounts during the second half of 2017. The number of requests increased by 20 percent compared to the first half of 2017, when Apple received 13.499 such requests.
But the most recent numbers are more than 2,5 times higher compared to the same period a year earlier, when Apple received only 5.999 such orders.
Other technology companies also experienced a surge in the number of national security requests between the second half of 2016 and the first half of 2017. National security requests for Google increased 36 percent, to nearly 51 requests, similar to Facebook, which nearly doubled to 27 requests.
Facebook and Google have not yet reported a large number of national security requests for the second half of 2017 because both companies disclose individual numbers for National Security Letters and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requests.
FISA figures are subject to a six-month reporting delay by law. Apple publishes an aggregate number for both types of requests and therefore can report the figures sooner.
Apple also announced on Friday that it will begin reporting government requests to remove apps from its App Store.
Apple's new tracking for app removal requests begins on July 1st, and therefore data will start to be displayed within a year.
By Stephen Nellis