Apple’s Latest Transparency Report Highlights Stricter Data Handling
Apple’s newly released Transparency Report for the first half of 2024 underscores a pivotal shift in how the company navigates government requests for push notification data. For Apple enthusiasts and data privacy advocates, the numbers reveal a marked tightening of the company’s response to these growing demands.
Push Notification Requests on the Rise
According to Apple’s Transparency Report (June 2025), global government requests for push notification data nearly doubled, rising from 119 in early 2023 to 277 by mid-2024 (AppleInsider). In the U.S. alone, requests climbed from 48 in H1 2023 to 129 one year later. However, the company’s approval rate dropped sharply during the same period: globally, the rate fell from 76% to 59%, and in the U.S., from 88% to just 28%.
This data, as sourced from Apple’s report, suggests that authorities increasingly view push tokens as a valuable access point for account-level information. Push tokens, used to route device notifications, are linked with user identifiers like Apple IDs, names, and email addresses. If an app transmits unencrypted content, message data could also become accessible, though Apple states its service does not itself decrypt notifications.
Evolving Legal Standards: Judge’s Orders Now Required
A notable policy shift occurred in December 2023: Apple began requiring a judge’s order before releasing push notification data, replacing the prior requirement of a subpoena (AppleInsider). This procedural tightening is in line with Apple’s broader moves to position itself as a privacy-forward company. Apple’s approach parallels previous features such as App Tracking Transparency and Mail Privacy Protection, reinforcing the narrative of user privacy as a pillar of its brand identity.
Country-Specific Trends and Regulatory Pressures
The Transparency Report indicates that the U.S. and U.K. submitted the majority of push data requests. Approval rates in the U.K. have also declined sharply, signaling a consistent global approach. In comparison, China continues to submit the highest number of device- and app-data requests, meeting with higher compliance rates from Apple, especially for App Store takedown requests (see the 2024 App Store Transparency Report).
Interestingly, geofence warrant requests—a controversial surveillance category—dropped significantly in the U.S., from 16 requests in H1 2023 to just one in H1 2024, with Apple maintaining zero compliance. This stance highlights an area where Apple has drawn a strict line, potentially setting an industry precedent.
Comparative Industry Landscape
While Apple stands out in requiring more robust legal processes and offering detailed public transparency, the rest of the industry displays varied levels of disclosure and compliance. With regulatory and geopolitical pressures intensifying, other firms face similar challenges, but Apple’s detailed reporting and public positioning on privacy distinguish its approach in the ecosystem.
Privacy Management for Users
Amid these developments, users can take several steps to reinforce notification privacy—such as adjusting app notification permissions or disabling message previews. Apple’s transparency efforts, initiated after a 2021 developer lawsuit settlement, remain focused on keeping users informed and compliant with legal requirements.
Looking Ahead: Privacy Advocacy amid Rising Surveillance
Apple’s declining approval rates for push notification data requests, set against the backdrop of swelling government interest, reflect an evolving—if cautious—privacy stance. As the complexity of regulatory and governmental scrutiny grows, Apple’s position as a privacy advocate will likely remain central to its identity and strategic decision-making.