Last week, Apple released its first ever report detailing
requests from government agencies worldwide in respect of its
customers' personal information. Interestingly, the report ends
with the following note:
'Apple has never received an order under Section 215 of the
USA Patriot Act. We would expect to challenge such an order if
served on us.'
Oh yes, intrigue.
The exceptionally well named Uniting and Strengthening America
by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism Act of 2001 (Patriot Act) provides that the FBI can order
the production of any tangible things (records, papers, documents
etc) for an investigation to protect against terrorism and
intelligence activities. If it's your information they're
after, you don't have the right to know they're after it,
let alone object. They don't even need to demonstrate
reasonable grounds to believe that you're engaged in criminal
activity. It also puts a gag on anyone receiving such an
