Feds Order Apple And Google To Hand Over Names Of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Forbes ^ | 2019-9-6 | Thomas Brewster / Forbes Staff

[old-ager]

Own a rifle? Got a scope to go with it? The government might soon know who you are, where you live and how to reach you.

That’s because Apple and Google have been ordered by the U.S. government to hand over names, phone numbers and other identifying data of at least 10,000 users of a single gun scope app, Forbes has discovered. It's an unprecedented move: never before has a case been disclosed in which American investigators demanded personal data of users of a single app from Apple and Google. And never has an order been made public where the feds have asked the Silicon Valley giants for info on so many thousands of people in one go.

According to a court order filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on 5 September, investigators want information on users of Obsidian 4, a tool used to control rifle scopes made by night vision specialist American Technologies Network Corp. The app allows gun owners to get a live stream, take video and calibrate their gun scope from an Android or iPhone device. According to the Google Play page for Obsidian 4, it has more than 10,000 downloads. Apple doesn't provide download numbers, so it's unclear how many iPhone owners have been swept up in this latest government data grab.

If Apple and Google decide to hand over the information, it could include data on thousands of innocent people who have nothing to do with the crimes being investigated, privacy activists warned. Edin Omanovic, lead on Privacy International's State Surveillance programme, said the order would set a dangerous precedent and scoop up “huge amounts of innocent people’s personal data.”

“Such orders need to be based on suspicion and be particularized - this is neither,” Omanovic added.

[old-ager]

DOJ "orders" Apple and Google to provide names and phone numbers of app users. Excerpted specially for the conceited rifle/machinegunner/artilleryman.

[Vaquero]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3776984/posts

[Mouton]

DOJ orders, humm, perhaps DOJ should order itself cancelled. It is not mentioned in the constitution, anywhere, so we don’t need it.

[old-ager]

Admin please delete my redundant post.

[Meatspace]

Apple and Google are not your friends and will act against the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments and reveal your data in this case.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Time to go back to the TRUSTY FLIP PHONE that can’t do much of ANYTHING other than make calls or texts. MUCH CHEAPER TOO!

[bobby.223]

LOL!!! Yeah, that will probably get him charged up!

[I want the USA back]

Who’s the fascist who ordered this?

[TheTimeOfMan]

If the story is true they don’t have much choice.

The person at fault here is President Trump. As much as I hate to say it.

[TheTimeOfMan]

That said - maybe there is a good enough reason to make the request.

[Taxman]

Does AG BARR run the DOJ, or does the DOJ run the AG?

AG Barr needs to nip this gross, unconstitutional violation of privacy in the bud RIGHT DAMN NOW!

And fire the bozos that thought this scheme up!

[Taxman]

YUP!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

All you data is belong to us!

[NFHale]

Zero your scope the old-fashioned way. And use iron sights wherever possible.

Odds are, when “they” come, they’ll be closer than you think.

[CivilWarBrewing]

WHY NOT ALL THE NAMES AND NUMBERS OF ANTIFA MEMBERS?

[CivilWarBrewing]

Full disclosure: I don’t not have a scope, other than the mouthwash.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Ooops, I mean I do NOT have a scope.

[SunTzuWu]

OK guys, this has got to stop! The constant nagging and bitching about multiple posts is getting old. I recognize that some of you have nothing better to do than watch FR all day and read every post, but some of us work or otherwise have a life. When I get home I don't sit here and read 24 hours worth of posts. If old-ager hadn't posted his article I wouldn't have seen it. Vaquero, no harm comes to you or FR by way of multiple posts so please find something else to grind on about.

[old-ager]

Thanks! I do have to admit that I am very disappointed not to catch any $hit from the conceited-rifle-or-artillery-operator-as-self-described.

[old-ager]

I don’t not no have no scopes neither.