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Apple goes public with government data requests

Apple says it has had between 4,000 and 5,000 government requests for user data from December of 2012 through last month.

Apple has revealed new information on how often the U.S. government asks for data on its users. Apple reports it has recieved between 4,000 and 5,000 requests for user data from December of 2012 through last month. The company says the government authorized their information release. Microsoft and Facebook have put out their own numbers on data requests.

Gant Redmon, a general council at the cybersecurity firm Co3 systems, puts the data release in perspective:

 
Redmon: “Given the amount of data available, given the number of users, I think it’s remarkably small… It’s in the best interest of the company to be able to explain to their consumers exactly what they’re doing and when. You don’t want to have an adversarial relationship with those who are providing to your bottom line.”

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