Monday, September 9, 2019

DOJ Asks Apple to Identify Users of Gun Scope App

Mikey Campbell (MacRumors):

Detailed in an application for a court order filed on Thursday, the DOJ seeks names, phone numbers, IP addresses and other personal data of iOS and Android users who downloaded the Obsidian 4 app, reports Forbes.

The app, developed by American Technologies Network Corp, enables owners to connect to and control rifle scopes manufactured by the same company, specifically models in the ATN X-Sight 4K and ThOR 4 product lines. With Obsidian 4, users can connect to a compatible scope via Wi-Fi and stream live video, review images and movies stored on the scope’s microSD card and adjust hardware settings.

[…]

The DOJ is issuing the order to assist in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation of illegal exports of ATN scopes.

It will be interesting to see how Apple responds, because this is not a case where it can say that it’s being asked to hack its own devices. The requested data is likely already easily accessible on its servers. And it’s not from a particular known suspect like Syed Farook; rather, this is a fishing expedition. It could also set a precedent for other types of apps that other governments want information about.

Previously:

4 Comments RSS · Twitter

A reminder: with enforced notarization, macOS sends Apple a record of every application that you launch.

@vintner Right, including for non–App Store apps.

Sören Nils Kuklau

Does that payload include your Apple ID, though?

@Sören Probably not, but they can probably figure it out from your IP.

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