2020 Apple Transparency Report Details Requests for Data from Canadian Authorities

Apple has shared its Transparency Report for the period of January 1 to June 30, 2020. The report details the number of requests Apple receives from government agencies and authorities worldwide.

“When we receive an account request seeking our customers’ information and data, we notify the customer that we have received a request concerning their personal data except where we are explicitly prohibited by the legal process, by a court order Apple receives, or by applicable law,” explains Apple.

“We reserve the right to make exceptions, such as instances where we believe providing notice creates a risk of injury or death to an identifiable individual, or where the case relates to child endangerment, or where notice is not applicable to the underlying facts of the case,” adds Apple.

Apple says “our legal team reviews requests received to ensure that the requests have a valid legal basis. If they do, we comply with the requests and provide data responsive to the request. If we determine a request does not have a valid legal basis, or if we consider it to be unclear, inappropriate and/or over-broad, we challenge or reject it.”

Apple's new transparency report for the first half of 2020 is out. Not much new, but some observations: Numbers are largely down year-over-year, but worldwide government account and preservation requests up slightly.

Link: https://t.co/Jh7wqMdVSu

— Zack Whittaker (@zackwhittaker) April 9, 2021

As for data requests from Canadian authorities, Apple’s chart below details 18 device requests were received, with 129 devices specified in these requests. Apple provided data for 15 of these 18 device requests, resulting in the company providing data in 83% of cases in Canada.

“Table 1 provides information regarding device-based requests received. Examples of such requests are where law enforcement agencies are working on behalf of customers who have requested assistance regarding lost or stolen devices. Additionally, Apple regularly receives multi-device requests related to fraud investigations. Device-based requests generally seek details of customers associated with devices or device connections to Apple services,” details Apple.

Apple’s Transparency Report website also has detailed stats listed per country (including Canada), where you can also compare to previous data as well. Device requests from Canadian authorities in the previous reporting period (July to December 2019) were slightly higher at 24, compared to this 2020 reporting period.

Overall, Apple says out of worldwide device requests received, it provided data in 80% of those cases. Canada’s device request numbers are relatively low, working out to three per month.