# Apple’s Transparency Report: Insights from H1 2024
As reported by 404 Media, Apple has revised its Transparency Report for the initial half of 2024, highlighting key trends in the ongoing relationship between the tech behemoth and governments regarding user data. This report emphasizes the shifting strategies of authorities in seeking user information and Apple’s reactions to such demands.
## U.S. Push-Token Requests Surge
A prominent detail of the report is the rise in U.S. push-token requests. Push-token data incorporates metadata that can identify which device received a specific notification from an application, and in certain instances, it might even include unencrypted message content.
In late 2023, the matter drew attention when Senator Ron Wyden revealed that both Apple and Google had been supplying this type of data to law enforcement. Apple specified that it was only permitted to reveal push-token request details starting from the July to December 2022 reporting timeframe.
The statistics from Apple’s most recent report show a considerable escalation in U.S. push-token requests:
– **H1 2023**: 48 requests
– **H2 2023**: 99 requests
– **H1 2024**: 129 requests
Notwithstanding the growth in requests, Apple’s compliance rate has significantly diminished. In H1 2023, Apple adhered to 88% of requests, but this fell to 66% in H2 2023 and plummeted to merely 28% in H1 2024. This suggests a change in Apple’s readiness to share this type of data, potentially in response to public scrutiny.
On a worldwide level, push-token requests nearly doubled year on year, rising from 158 in H1 2023 to 277 in H1 2024, with Apple’s approval rate declining from 77% to 59%.
## Increased Device Data Requests from U.S. Law Enforcement
The report further discloses that U.S. law enforcement has substantially amplified its requests for device data. Over a six-month span, Apple received 12,043 device-data requests from U.S. authorities, detailing a total of 42,747 devices. Apple complied with 85% of these requests.
In contrast, China filed 1,212 device requests but specified an astonishing 365,980 devices, with Apple complying with 95% of those requests, raising concerns about the discrepancies in compliance rates among various nations.
## Decline in Geofence Warrants
Another significant trend is the sharp decrease in geofence warrants. In H1 2023, Apple reported 16 geofence warrants from the U.S., but in H1 2024, this figure fell to just one. Apple did not provide data for that instance, maintaining a record of zero compliance with geofence requests since it began reporting them separately.
This reduction could imply that investigators are moving away from this contentious method of data collection, or it might indicate that they are discovering alternative ways to procure similar data.
## Conclusion
Apple’s H1 2024 Transparency Report illuminates the intricate relationship between technology firms and governmental data requests. The surge in push-token requests and device data inquiries, coupled with a remarkable fall in compliance rates, signifies a notable shift in Apple’s stance on user privacy. The reduction in geofence warrants may suggest evolving investigative strategies, yet the overall environment remains characterized by ongoing tension between privacy advocates and law enforcement requirements.
For more information, the complete 2024 H1 Transparency Report can be retrieved [here](https://www.apple.com/legal/transparency/pdf/requests-2024-H1-en.pdf).
