Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Discussion of firearm-related news stories. Please use "Off Topic" for non-firearm news.
Forum rules
Do NOT post the full text of published articles. If you would like to discuss a news story please link to it and, at most, include a brief summary of the article.

Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby jdege on Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:39 am

[url]Exclusive: Feds Demand Apple And Google Hand Over Names Of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope Ap[/url]
Exclusive: Feds Demand Apple And Google Hand Over Names Of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

That’s because the government wants Apple and Google 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 an application for 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 could be swept up in this latest government data grab.
User avatar
jdege
 
Posts: 4465 [View]
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:07 am

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby yukonjasper on Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:36 am

Not following what that ap does.
Deo Adjuvante Non Timendum - (with the help of God there is nothing to be afraid of)
Spectamur Agendo - (We are proven by our actions)
Non Ducor, Duco - (I am not led, I lead)
NRA Life Member
User avatar
yukonjasper
 
Posts: 5823 [View]
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:31 pm
Location: eagan

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby jdege on Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:50 am

yukonjasper wrote:Not following what that ap does.

Me, either.

But it has something to do with gunz, so if you downloaded it, you're a suspect.
User avatar
jdege
 
Posts: 4465 [View]
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:07 am

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Rip Van Winkle on Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:22 pm

Looks like Orwell was a few years late.

Image
I will never apologize for being an American.
Post 435 Gun Club
North Star Rifle Club
cmpofficer@post435gunclub.org
48 down, Still in the hunt for a heavy!
President's Hundred (#48 2018)
Certified NRA RSO
User avatar
Rip Van Winkle
 
Posts: 4165 [View]
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:04 pm
Location: Unfashionable end of the western spiral arm, Galaxy Milky Way

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Lumpy on Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:31 am

yukonjasper wrote:Not following what that ap does.


From Apple’s App Store:

This is the Future of Optics!

The Obsidian 4 application is here to enhance your experience when using the ATN X-Sight 4K and/or the ThOR 4 product lines. This application connects your smart phone, or tablet, to your ATN device via Wifi. This connection allows you to watch a live video stream of your hunt on your smart phone or tablet. The Obsidian 4 app lets you to adjust/change the various settings on your ATN Smart scope, and review the images and videos stored on your scopes microSD card.


The ATN in turn is a "smart scope": an electronic camera system mountable as a scope that integrates recording images and video, a rangefinder, nightvision, zoom lens, sighting adjustment, etc.

What I don't get is why the ap is more objectionable to the government than the scopes themselves.
User avatar
Lumpy
 
Posts: 2700 [View]
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:54 pm
Location: North of Lowry, West of Penn

Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby dismal on Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:09 am

Lumpy wrote:
What I don't get is why the ap is more objectionable to the government than the scopes themselves.


I don’t think that they care about the app, they’re just using it to track who has the scopes, and where they have them.
User avatar
dismal
 
Posts: 935 [View]
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:30 am
Location: Rochester, MN

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Holland&Holland on Wed Sep 11, 2019 9:49 pm

dismal wrote:
Lumpy wrote:
What I don't get is why the ap is more objectionable to the government than the scopes themselves.


I don’t think that they care about the app, they’re just using it to track who has the scopes, and where they have them.

Bingo!
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12478 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Ghost on Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:32 am

My simplified understanding is it is with respect to ITAR. Since the scope is ITAR then foreigners shouldn’t have the app.
User avatar
Ghost
 
Posts: 8246 [View]
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 8:49 pm

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Holland&Holland on Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:21 pm

Ghost wrote:My simplified understanding is it is with respect to ITAR. Since the scope is ITAR then foreigners shouldn’t have the app.

You can't sell scopes overseas? I know gun parts but there were plenty of leuoplds on the shelf in Sweden when I was there.
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12478 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby xd ED on Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:36 pm

Holland&Holland wrote:
Ghost wrote:My simplified understanding is it is with respect to ITAR. Since the scope is ITAR then foreigners shouldn’t have the app.

You can't sell scopes overseas? I know gun parts but there were plenty of leuoplds on the shelf in Sweden when I was there.


...seems like it is more an export licensing issue than absolute ban on exporting;
I didn't read/ digest the entire page/ policy
https://www.opticsplanet.com/export.html

Found This on OpticsPlanet:
If you wish to purchase an item for ultimate shipment or use outside of the United States, please indicate this fact in your order. Depending on the value of the order, specific item(s), end user, country of ultimate destination and end use, OpticsPlanet, Inc. may be required to apply for an export license with the appropriate U.S. government agency. Several items on the website may require an export license, including, but not limited to, the following:

Generation 2, 3, or 4 Night Vision Equipment and Night Vision Accessories
Thermal Imaging Equipment and Heat Seekers
Optical Sighting Equipment and Tactical Lights (both Hand-Held and Weapon-Mountable), Accessories, and Mounting Hardware
Tactical Gear and Weapon Accessories
Knives
Military Apparel including Body Armor, Helmets and Helmet Accessories, and Shields
Some Laboratory Equipment
Some Electronic Equipment


and

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Some of the item(s) on this website are subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and export is strictly prohibited without authorization or a license issued by the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
LET'S GO BRANDON
User avatar
xd ED
 
Posts: 9015 [View]
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:28 pm
Location: Saint Paul

Re: Feds Demand Names of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App

Postby Holland&Holland on Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:54 am

xd ED wrote:
Holland&Holland wrote:
Ghost wrote:My simplified understanding is it is with respect to ITAR. Since the scope is ITAR then foreigners shouldn’t have the app.

You can't sell scopes overseas? I know gun parts but there were plenty of leuoplds on the shelf in Sweden when I was there.


...seems like it is more an export licensing issue than absolute ban on exporting;
I didn't read/ digest the entire page/ policy
https://www.opticsplanet.com/export.html

Found This on OpticsPlanet:
If you wish to purchase an item for ultimate shipment or use outside of the United States, please indicate this fact in your order. Depending on the value of the order, specific item(s), end user, country of ultimate destination and end use, OpticsPlanet, Inc. may be required to apply for an export license with the appropriate U.S. government agency. Several items on the website may require an export license, including, but not limited to, the following:

Generation 2, 3, or 4 Night Vision Equipment and Night Vision Accessories
Thermal Imaging Equipment and Heat Seekers
Optical Sighting Equipment and Tactical Lights (both Hand-Held and Weapon-Mountable), Accessories, and Mounting Hardware
Tactical Gear and Weapon Accessories
Knives
Military Apparel including Body Armor, Helmets and Helmet Accessories, and Shields
Some Laboratory Equipment
Some Electronic Equipment


and

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Some of the item(s) on this website are subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and export is strictly prohibited without authorization or a license issued by the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.


What an absolute mess. Thank you.
User avatar
Holland&Holland
 
Posts: 12478 [View]
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:17 am


Return to In The News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests

cron