[LINK] Apple’s “warrant canary” disappears, suggesting new Patriot Act demands

[Kim Holburn]

https://gigaom.com/2014/09/18/apples-warrant-canary-disappears-suggesting-new-patriot-act-demands/

> Apple’s “warrant canary” disappears, suggesting new Patriot Act demands


> Apple included language in its first Transparency Report to say that it had not been subject to a Section 215 Patriot Act request. That language is now gone.


> When Apple published its first Transparency Report on government activity in late 2013, the document contained an important footnote that stated:
> 
> “Apple has never received an order under Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act. We would expect to challenge such an order if served on us.”
> 
> Writer and cyber-activist Cory Doctorow at the time recognized that language as a so-called “warrant canary,” which Apple was using to thwart the secrecy imposed by the Patriot Act.
> 
> Warrant canaries are a tool used by companies and publishers to signify to their users that, so far, they have not been subject to a given type of law enforcement request such as a secret subpoena. If the canary disappears, then it is likely the situation has changed — and the company has been subject to such request.
> 
> Now, Apple’s warrant canary has disappeared. A review of the company’s last two Transparency Reports, covering the second half of 2013 and the first six months of 2014, shows that the “canary” language is no longer there.


-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request