According to a recent article from Forbes, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is insisting that Apple, Amazon, and Google reveal the identities, addresses, and purchase histories of more than 100,000 users of a vehicle modification app named EZ Lynk. This demand is part of an ongoing legal matter involving EZ Lynk, which operates out of the Cayman Islands and is accused of breaching the Clean Air Act.
The DOJ initiated a lawsuit against EZ Lynk in 2021, claiming that the company marketed “defeat devices” meant to disable emissions controls on cars. EZ Lynk has countered by stating that its primary role is not to aid users in avoiding emissions regulations, but instead that its applications can be used for a variety of vehicle enhancements and performance tracking.
Subpoenas were sent to Apple and Google in March and April, as outlined in a joint letter analyzed by Forbes. In reply, EZ Lynk’s legal representatives have mentioned that both technology firms intend to challenge the request for data. They contend that the demand for possibly hundreds of thousands of individuals’ personally identifiable information (PII) goes beyond what is required for the case and raises considerable privacy issues. The attorneys stressed that probing the accusations does not require identifying every individual who has utilized EZ Lynk’s products.
Nevertheless, the DOJ argues that its request for customer information is justifiable and essential for the investigation. The government asserts that it regularly seeks customer data to interview witnesses about their experiences with EZ Lynk’s technology. Evidence has already been submitted in court showing individuals utilizing EZ Lynk’s tools to disable emissions controls, including posts on social media and conversations in EZ Lynk forums.
For additional information regarding the dispute between the DOJ and EZ Lynk, the complete report is available at Forbes.