bleepingcomputer[.]com/news/security/us-senator-govts-spy-on-apple-google-users-via-mobile-notifications/
A U.S. senator revealed today that government agencies worldwide demand mobile push notification records from Apple and Google users to spy on their customers.
Push notifications are smartphone alerts from mobile apps that go through intermediary gateways managed by the device vendor (through Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging and Apple's Push Notification Service).App developers must use Apple's and Google's notification gateways, which provide the tech giants with insight into their customers' app usage patterns and make it easier for U.S. or international governments to monitor individuals of interest through data requests.
Data collection through this method helps link devices to Apple or Google accounts and may also allow access to unencrypted notification content, including text displayed on the receiving smartphone.