Apple Reduces Push Data Approvals in 2024 Amid Rising Federal Requests

In 2024, there was a noticeable increase in the number of government requests for iPhone push notification data, but Apple has become more selective in granting these requests. According to Apple’s transparency report, global requests for push notification data surged from 119 in early 2023 to 277 by mid-2024. However, the approval rate dropped significantly from 76% to 59% during the same period, indicating a shift in Apple’s response to such inquiries.

The report highlighted that while more authorities are looking to push tokens for insights into account-level information, Apple has begun to exhibit greater restraint. As part of its annual transparency data, the company disclosed that some nations received access to metadata, and in certain instances, unencrypted content was shared through Apple’s Push Notification service. When users permit an app to send notifications, Apple generates a push token that connects the app with the device and Apple ID.

This information can include personal data, such as names and addresses. Significantly, if an app does not encrypt its notifications, requests may also seek the actual content of users’ messages. Apple’s notification delivery system does not decrypt messages but merely serves as the conveying channel.

This situation was spotlighted by Senator Ron Wyden in 2023, when he revealed that Apple and Google had been compelled to share notification data with law enforcement. Between mid-2023 and mid-2024, the number of global requests nearly doubled, yet Apple granted fewer of those requests, highlighting a shift in its policies. The U.S. and the U.K. made several requests, with the U.K. continuing to secure data more frequently while overall approval rates decreased sharply.

As of December 2023, Apple now mandates a judge’s order for push notification data requests, a move aimed at enhancing user privacy. Nonetheless, users should take proactive measures to protect themselves, such as reviewing notification permissions and adjusting privacy settings to limit data exposure.