Apple builds an online portal allowing police to request data

Apple is creating a dedicated team to help train law enforcement officials around the world on forensic science, the company said in a letter to Rhode Island Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on Tuesday.

The company is also working on an online portal, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2018, where law enforcement officials can submit and track requests for data and get answers from customers. ; Apple. When the portal goes online, police and law enforcement officials may request "authentication information," Apple said in its letter.

The letter, as seen by CNET, addresses the recommendations made in a report released earlier this year by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Cybersecurity and the "Digital Evidence Requirements" of the agencies charged with the application of the law.

Apple said in its letter that it was eager to adopt the report's recommendations, including upgrading its law enforcement training program. This includes the development of an online training module for the police that reflects Apple's ongoing training, according to the letter and details on the company's website.

"This will help Apple train more law enforcement agencies and agents globally and update our company's information and guidelines to reflect the changing nature of our business." fast data ".

Apple also reiterated in the letter that it "is committed to protecting the security and privacy of our users" and that the company's initiatives and "the work we do to help investigations meet this fundamental commitment."

With technology companies such as Google and Microsoft, Apple regularly publishes transparency reports detailing the frequency with which it receives requests for data from governments and private parties. in the first half of 2017For example, Apple received between 13,250 and 13,499 requests for national security from US law enforcement.

First published September 6 at 10:08 Pacific Time.
Updated 7 September at 4:34 am Addition of the background of the letter of Apple.

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