Hacker NewsSaturday · May 16, 2026FREE

U.S. DOJ demands Apple and Google unmask over 100k users of car-tinkering app

The U.S. Department of Justice is demanding that Apple and Google unmask over 100,000 users of a popular car-tinkering app, according to a report from MacDailyNews. The app, which enables users to modify vehicle software and potentially bypass emissions controls, is under scrutiny as part of a broader crackdown on emissions cheating. The DOJ's request targets user identities, including names, email addresses, and device identifiers, raising significant privacy concerns. Apple and Google have not yet publicly responded, but the case could set a precedent for how tech companies handle government requests for user data in the context of environmental regulations. The app's developers have argued that the tool is intended for legitimate vehicle customization, not emissions fraud. The legal battle highlights the tension between user privacy and law enforcement efforts to enforce environmental laws.