Worldwide
Apple counts requests received from government agencies within the reporting period in which they are received. Overall numbers of requests and responses are reported.
A request with a valid legal basis is processed and responded to, and is counted as one request. A request that is challenged/rejected is counted as one request. Where new legal process is submitted to amend the request, it is counted as a new request. We count each request we challenge or reject for account, account restriction/deletion, emergency and United States private party requests; and report these numbers accordingly.
We count the number of discernible devices, financial identifiers, and/or accounts specified in requests, and report these accordingly by type. If there are two identifiers for one device in a request, for example a Serial number and IMEI number, we count this as one device. If there are multiple identifiers for one account in a request, for example Apple ID, full name and phone number, we count this as one account.
MLAT Requests
Requests received from a foreign government pursuant to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT”) process or through other cooperative efforts with the United States government are included in Apple's Transparency Report. In instances where the originating country was identified, Apple counts and reports the MLAT request under the country of origin. In instances where the originating country was not identified, Apple counts and reports the request under the United States of America.
United States
For United States National Security requests for customer information and data, we report as much detail as we are legally allowed. Apple reports national security requests received for Apple users/accounts (National Security Letters and orders received under FISA) within ranges permissible by law pursuant to the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 (“USA Freedom”). Though we want to be more specific, these are currently the ranges and level of detail permitted under USA Freedom for reporting U.S. National Security requests.
For United States Government Requests by Legal Process Type reporting, where two types of legal process are combined in a single request, such as a search warrant with an incorporated court order, we record the request at the highest level of legal process and the request would be reported as a search warrant. An exception is where a pen register/trap and trace order is received; this is counted as a pen register/trap and trace order, notwithstanding that it may include a search warrant.
For United States Private Party request reporting, we count requests received from private parties within the reporting period in which they are received. Overall numbers of private party requests and responses are reported.