800 Points
Google Play services and Apple services provide centralized infrastructures for some apps. For example, push messages are sent via these services. Government agencies use this fact to monitor iPhone and Android devices.

More information

You can protect yourself from this by using apps that do not require Google or Apple services. Also avoid alternatives such as microG if you have your own operating system installed. For example, install apps from F-Droid that do not require these services. Some messengers such as Signal offer their own alternatives for centralized push messages.

Particularly important for the following target groups:

Sources and further links

  1. Prominent iOS apps secretly spy on device data, golem.de, (de), 2024-01-23
  2. Apple guidelines: Court order for push data mandatory!, tarnkappe.info, (de), 2023-12-12
  3. Remedy against government surveillance through push messages, kuketz-blog.de, (de), 2023-12-06
  4. Authorities spy on users via push notifications, golem.de, (de), 2023-12-06
  5. Authorities ask Apple and Google about users of messenger apps, netzpolitik.org, (de), 2023-12-05
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