Android and iOS don’t let mobile apps run continuously in the background. If an app is closed or in the background, it generally can’t talk to its own servers.
Instead, Google and Apple provide a service that allows the apps’ servers to push a message even if the app is closed.
In Google’s case, it’s to reduce power usage. Having to listen to one service only (FCM) uses less power than if each app/service was listening on their own. They state this in their website
Is there a reason the notifications go through Apple/Google servers instead of directly from the services themselves?
Although, that wouldn’t necessarily stop the government from requesting the data from those services instead.
Either way, Wyden is continuing to be the top senator/politician on digital privacy for over a decade at this point.
Android and iOS don’t let mobile apps run continuously in the background. If an app is closed or in the background, it generally can’t talk to its own servers.
Instead, Google and Apple provide a service that allows the apps’ servers to push a message even if the app is closed.
In Google’s case, it’s to reduce power usage. Having to listen to one service only (FCM) uses less power than if each app/service was listening on their own. They state this in their website
I imagine Apple has similar reasons for that.