• US Senator Ron Wyden claims foreign governments are using push notification data from Google and Apple for user surveillance.
• The US government has restricted Google and Apple from disclosing such activities.
• Push notifications travel through Google and Apple servers, providing a potential avenue for data collection.

In a concerning revelation, US Senator Ron Wyden has disclosed that foreign governments are actively seeking push notification data from tech giants Google and Apple to spy on users. While Senator Wyden did not specify the governments involved, he emphasized that the US government has imposed restrictions on Google and Apple regarding sharing information on this issue. This revelation sheds light on the potential misuse of push notification data, prompting a closer examination of its implications.

Unique Surveillance Avenue: Wyden explains that Apple and Google, providers of push notification data, are uniquely positioned to facilitate government surveillance. The data includes metadata detailing app-specific notifications, the timing of notifications, and the associated phone and Apple or Google account.

Government Compulsion: Senator Wyden asserts that governments can secretly compel Apple and Google to hand over push notification data, raising concerns about user privacy and the potential misuse of such information.

Tech Giants Respond: Apple and Google confirm Wyden's claims, expressing commitment to informing users about government requests. Apple mentions updating transparency reporting in response to the public disclosure of this surveillance method.

The Significance of Push Notifications: While many users overlook the role of Google and Apple in delivering push notifications, these notifications traverse the companies' servers before reaching users. This opens up a new avenue for user surveillance, as revealed by a Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter.

Government Requests for Metadata: US government agencies are reported to have sought metadata related to push notifications from Apple and Google, as per an undisclosed source. The report refrains from naming the foreign governments involved but suggests that democratic allies of the United States are among the requestors.