Forbes: DOJ is Demanding Apple and Google Identify Users of this Car App

Forbes

The DOJ Is Demanding Apple And Google Identify Over 100,000 Users Of This Car...

The government argues it needs user data to prosecute EZ Lynk for allegedly willfully helping users break emissions laws (which the company denies). But it looks like unnecessary overreach.

The Department of Justice is demanding major tech providers Amazon, Apple and Google provide identities, addresses and purchase histories of at least 100,000 people who used a car tinkering app made by Cayman Islands-based EZ Lynk.

It’s a rare example of the government obtaining subpoenas to grab data on anyone who downloaded an app. In one case in 2019, Forbes revealed Apple and Google were ordered to provide information on over 10,000 people who installed a gun scope app on their phone. In this latest case, the government is asking for information on at least 10 times more individuals.

According to a joint letter to the court from EZ Lynk and the DOJ, filed earlier this month, the DOJ subpoenaed Apple and Google across March and April for details on anyone who downloaded EZ Lynk’s Auto Agent app to find customers to testify in the case. Subpoenas were also served on Amazon and Walmart, asking for names and addresses of people who bought the EZ Lynk hardware that users plug into a port in their vehicle, the letter says.

In the letter, EZ Lynk lawyers wrote that Apple and Google are planning to fight the subpoenas. Walmart declined to comment. None of the other companies subpoenaed responded to a comment request.