Feds Order Apple And Google To Hand Over Names Of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Forbes ^ | September 6th, 2019 | Thomas Brewster

[Mariner]

Own a rifle? Got a scope to go with it? The government might soon know who you are, where you live and how to reach you.

That’s because Apple and Google have been ordered by the U.S. government to hand over names, phone numbers and other identifying data of at least 10,000 users of a single gun scope app, Forbes has discovered. It’s an unprecedented move: Never before has a case been disclosed in which American investigators demanded personal data of users of a single app from Apple and Google. And never has an order been made public where the feds have asked the Silicon Valley giants for info on so many thousands of people in one go.

According to a court order filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on September 5, investigators want information on users of Obsidian 4, a tool used to control rifle scopes made by night-vision specialist American Technologies Network Corp. The app allows gun owners to get a live stream, take video and calibrate their gun scope from an Android or iPhone device. According to the Google Play page for Obsidian 4, it has more than 10,000 downloads. Apple doesn’t provide download numbers, so it’s unclear how many iPhone owners have been swept up in this latest government data grab.

[Truth29]

From the average reviews, this sounds like much ado about a subpar product. Wonder what else this is about?

[subterfuge]

I don’t believe for a second the Feds don’t already have the names. Probably a test run to see the reaction of the people. Up next: handgun list

[LibWhacker]

Now that I think about it, maybe iron sights ought to be classified, too. They allow a person to zero in accurately on targets at a great distance in such a way that is not discernible by any of the three-letter agencies.

[doorgunner69]

Scoped bolt action or semiauto = "sniper rifle"

Wait for it.

[Lurker]

Now it’s whatever plus 1. And this app is getting terrible reviews.

L

[Vaquero]

Scoped bolt action or semiauto = “sniper rifle”
Wait for it.

Oh it’s been said by these bastards before.

I just took a really nice leupold 2-7 power scope off my Marlin .35 cal. lever gun so my son can use it hunting (he hates scopes.) So let him use iron sights. They’re right on up to 100 yds

But as you implied, the grabbers want them ALL.

[mrmeyer]

If it’s digital the NSA has it

[redcatcherb412]

The advantage of using only good ‘ol iron peep sights.

[familyop]

"Own a rifle? Got a scope to go with it? The government might soon know who you are, where you live and how to reach you."

Oh, no! That's only a "laser focus" on tens of millions of Americans! ;D

[JGT]

“Probably a test run to see the reaction of the people.”

Absolutely. They are probing reactions before they initiate the next infringement on the 2nd Amendment.

[backwoods-engineer]

I bet your “non-app” scope has no night vision capability. What you are talking about doesn’t even compare here. You’re just trying to score Luddite points.

[backwoods-engineer]

Good grief. What about people like me, with bad vision? I guess we’re not allowed to use scopes to hunt or shoot long range?

[elcid1970]

I like the Luddite angle, but remember they were resisting industrialization only to keep their jobs.

So...you’re suggesting that the government is investigating hunters possessing night vision capable telescopic sights? Who might go tactical if SHTF?

10,000 users? That’s a lot of doors to go knocking on.

I used to service NVG’s in the Army Reserve. Neat stuff but far superseded by now.

But the worst part is Apple & Google cooperating with the Feds. They aren’t being coerced; they’re on the Feds’ side.

This is worrisome and is why I use a bare minimum of IT/AI devices. Maybe neo-Luddite-ism has its advantages.

;^)

[MarMema]

Thanks for the link.

[doorgunner69]

I just took a really nice leupold 2-7 power scope off my Marlin .35 cal. lever gun so my son can use it hunting (he hates scopes.)

Funny, I avoided scopes for decades. Finally decided to give it a try and ran into a new set of issues. Shooting airguns, I got tighter groups with open sights. Still leaning about parallax and all. That stuff takes care of itself if you know how to shoot open sights.

[redcatcherb412]

Good grief. What about people like me, with bad vision?

My post wasn't intended to deter scope use, only to point out the grabbers shouldn't have a grab list of rifles with trusty old peep sights. ..... yet anyway.

[SauronOfMordor]

It’s an interesting high tech scope. The scope has an embedded computer, with Wi-Fi capabilities, that can connect to an app on your phone. It can calculate bullet drop for whatever calibre.

I hadn’t known that such things existed, but am not too surprised.