U.S. government wants Apple, Google to hand over data of purchasers of Obsidian 4 app

The U.S. government wants Apple and Google to hand over names, phone numbers and other identifying data of at least 10,000 users of a single gun scope app, reports Forbes. With Apple’s previous stances on privacy, it will be interesting to see how the tech giant responds. 

According to an application for a court order filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Sept. 5, investigators want information on users of Obsidian 4, a tool used to control rifle scopes made by night-vision specialist American Technologies Network Corp. The app allows gun owners to get a live stream, take video and calibrate their gun scope from an Android or iPhone device.

Here’s how the ATN Obsidian 4 is described on the Apple App Store and Google Play: “The Obsidian 4 application is here to enhance your experience when using the ATN X-Sight 4K and/or the ThOR 4 product lines. This application connects your smart phone, or tablet, to your ATN device via Wifi. This connection allows you to watch a live video stream of your hunt on your smart phone or tablet. The Obsidian 4 app lets you to adjust/change the various settings on your ATN Smart scope, and review the images and videos stored on your scopes microSD card.”

Forbes, describing the DOJ’s request as “an unprecedented move,” had this to add: Never before has a case been disclosed in which American investigators demanded personal data of users of a single app from Apple and Google. And never has an order been made public where the feds have asked the Silicon Valley giants for info on so many thousands of people in one go.”