Governments use push notifications on phones to spy
Listen to the story (Kenyan accent)
On Wednesday, US politician Ron Wyden warned that governments are watching people through the messages that pop up on their phones. These messages, called push notifications, come from apps like games, news apps or messaging apps.
Wyden explained his worries in a letter to the Department of Justice. He says leaders from other countries ask big companies like Google and Apple for private information.
When you get a notification on your phone, it often travels through computer servers owned by Google or Apple. These big companies can see the information going from apps to users.
Wyden is worried that governments will watch how people use their phones and apps.
Apple says the government “prohibited” the company from talking about this type of surveillance. However, the issue is public now and Apple wants to share information about it. Google also said they want to share information about these kinds of requests from governments.
Someone gave Wyden’s staff a tip about this government surveillance, but they will not say who that person is. They also do not say which countries are requesting information from Google and Apple, but said they are countries that have good relations with the US.
Although most people don't think about the messages that pop up on their phones, they can be a privacy problem. That’s why tech-savvy people do not like push notifications.
Most people do not realize that their apps are sending data to Google or Apple through these notification or alert messages.
Vocabulary27 words
- Politician
- a person who works in politics; a person chosen by a country’s citizens to work in the government
- Warn
- to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen; alert; notify
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Pop up
- When something suddenly appear; to suddenly or quickly “stand up” or “show up”
- Push notification
- A small message that appears/shows on your phone or computer screen, usually to tell you about something new
- App (application)
- software, especially for smartphones and tablets
- Messaging app
- An app that lets you send and receive messages with other people (iMessage, WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat, Signal, etc.)
- Worry
- to be/feel concerned or nervous; to be troubled; to think a lot about a negative situation; a little scared
- Leader
- someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
- Private
- Something personal or not for everyone to know; not for other people
- Notification
- A message or alert that informs you about something
- Server
- a large computer that controls other computers or shares information with many computers in a network
- User
- a person who uses something
- Prohibit
- Not allow something to happen; To say that something is not allowed or forbidden
- Surveillance
- Watching someone or something closely to see what they are doing; keeping track of people
- Issue
- a subject or problem that people are thinking and/or talking about; matter; topic; problem
- Public
- general people, all people, citizens; available for all people; open to everyone
- Share
- to tell someone or people about something; to make public; to announce
- Request
- to ask for something
- Staff
- The people who work for a company or organization
- Tip
- helpful advice or information;
- Relation
- The way in which two things are connected; relationship
- Although
- even though; despite the fact; however; but
- Privacy
- the right/freedom to keep your personal life or personal information secret or safe
- Tech-savvy
- good at understanding and using technology
- Realize
- to become aware; to notice; understand; recognize; see
- Alert
- A signal or notification that something needs attention
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
On _____, US politician Ron Wyden warned that governments are _____ people through the messages that pop up on _____ phones. These messages, called push notifications, _____ from apps like games, _____ apps or messaging apps.
Wyden _____ his worries in a letter to the Department of Justice. _____ says leaders from other countries ask big _____ like Google and Apple for private _____.
When you get a _____ on your phone, it often travels through computer servers _____ by Google or Apple. These big companies can _____ the information going from apps to _____.
Wyden is worried that _____ will watch how people use their phones and apps.
_____ says the government “prohibited” the company from _____ about this type of surveillance. However, the _____ is public now and Apple wants to share information about _____. Google also said they want to _____ information about these kinds of requests from governments.
_____ gave Wyden’s staff a tip about this government surveillance, _____ they will not say who that person is. They _____ do not say which countries are requesting information from Google _____ Apple, but said they are countries that have good _____ with the US.
Although _____ people don't think about the messages that pop up on their _____, they can be a privacy _____. That’s why tech-savvy people do not like _____ notifications.
Most people do not realize that their apps are _____ data to Google or Apple through these notification or _____ messages.
Discussion questions
- Do you think it is acceptable for governments to watch people through their push notifications? Why or why not?
- How would you feel if you knew the government was watching how you use your phone?
- What steps can you take to protect your privacy from government surveillance through your phone?
- Do you think push notifications are helpful or annoying? Why?
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