DOJ Orders Apple and Google to Reveal Identities of 100,000 EZ Lynk Users
*Federal prosecutors are seeking names, addresses, and purchase records from the two major app stores as part of an emissions enforcement action.*
The demand
The U.S. Department of Justice has asked Apple and Google to turn over identifying information for more than 100,000 users of the EZ Lynk car-tinkering application. The request also covers Amazon. Prosecutors want names, addresses, and purchase histories tied to the app.
Scope of the request
The figure exceeds 100,000 accounts. EZ Lynk is described in the reports as a “car tinkering app.” The action is framed as part of an emissions crackdown, though no further details on specific violations or targets have been released.
What the stores hold
Apple and Google operate the primary distribution channels for the app. Their records include account details and transaction data that would allow authorities to match downloads or purchases to real-world individuals. Amazon is included because it also distributes the software or related hardware.
No public response yet
Neither Apple nor Google has issued a statement on the demand. The reports cite court filings obtained by Forbes; no comments from the companies or the Department of Justice appear in the available coverage.
Why it matters
App-store operators sit between users and law enforcement in an increasing number of cases. When the government asks for bulk user data tied to a niche tool, the precedent affects every developer who distributes software through the same stores and every customer who assumes their purchase record stays private. The EZ Lynk request shows how quickly an emissions investigation can become a broad data sweep.
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Sources:
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