U.S. Government can't intercept iMessage, but it can still serve Apple a search warrant

zdnet.com ^ | April 4, 2013 | Zach Whittaker

[castowell]

The U.S. government is struggling to crack into Apple's encrypted messaging system for domestic lawful wiretapping, according to an internal U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) document.

Because Apple stores data sent over iMessage and runs the service and encryption in-house, the iPhone and iPad maker is still open to being served a subpoena or a court-ordered search warrant.

As a result, Apple is also lagging behind other companies on transparency by not disclosing how many government requests have been made.

[castowell]

I see this as a good thing.

[jboot]

I discovered iMessage when it was used to spam me with nonstop ads. There was no way to block the sender, so I had to turn the service off on my iPhone. According to Verizon tech support iMessage spammers are just getting started.

IMHO without meaningful user controls iMessage is just malware.

[Boogieman]

If the “right to privacy” covers abortion somehow, then I think I can safely say it must cover iMessages.

[kevkrom]

I’d rather get iMessage spam than SMS spam, as I don’t have a texting plan.

[I want the USA back]

There is no longer any “free speech” when the gov can demand to see what you typed on a screen and what you received from someone else typing on a screen.

The fact that it is on a screen, or on paper, or in a computer file is no guarantee that it is meant to be true or not true.

[TexasRepublic]

We are entering into a police state and are being ruled with a velvet fist - for now. You must assume that all channels of communication are being monitored and you must not say anything illegal or conspiratorial if you don’t want a visit from the Feds. Enjoy your new life, Citizen.

[sickoflibs]

Pretty funny!

[roadcat]

You must assume that all channels of communication are being monitored and you must not say anything illegal or conspiratorial if you don’t want a visit from the Feds.

Unless you're an illegal immigrant trying to establish Atzlan territory for a spanish-speaking takeover from American citizens, well then anything goes.