Foreign Governments Spy On Google, Apple Users Through Push Notifications: Senator

Foreign governments are surveilling people through push notifications on Apple and Google devices, according to a letter sent to the Department of Justice by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday.

In the letter, Wyden urged the DOJ to warn iPhone and Android users that foreign officials have been making requests to access push notification data from phones. Push notifications occur when a phone alerts a user of an action from an app on their device. The practice would be yet another way that foreign governments can request and obtain digital information about users from two of the largest cellphone software companies.

Wyden said that his staff had been investigating the issue since receiving a tip in April 2022. He said he is urging the DOJ to alert the public after Apple and Google told his staff that they were barred by the government from publicly disclosing such information themselves.