GoKawiilSpecial Master again rules Apple can subpoena 14 federal agencies in DOJ antitrust case
Special Master Jose Linares has denied the Justice Department's motion to reconsider his earlier ruling allowing Apple to obtain documents from 14 federal agencies, including the CIA, FBI, NSA and Department of Defense. The DOJ had argued Linares used the wrong legal standard and that Apple's requests were overly burdensome and only marginally relevant, but Apple countered that these objections failed on every point, and Linares agreed.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Apple is trying to show that practices the DOJ calls anticompetitive are actually standard security and privacy measures, and evidence of how the government itself evaluates and purchases smartphones could bolster that defense. The ruling keeps Apple's document requests alive despite pushback from federal agencies wary of disclosing internal security and procurement practices, potentially shaping how much leverage Apple has in its broader antitrust fight.
- Linares upheld his prior ruling letting Apple seek records from 14 agencies including the CIA, FBI, NSA and Pentagon.
- The DOJ's reconsideration bid, claiming wrong legal standards and excessive burden, was rejected entirely.
- Apple aims to use agency practices on device security and purchasing to justify its own policies against antitrust claims.
Apple iPhone 16 — The device at the center of the DOJ's antitrust case is the iPhone itself, with Apple arguing its privacy and security safeguards are a feature, not a monopoly tactic. The iPhone 16 packages those protections along with Apple's latest chip and camera system in a familiar, easy-to-use design.
See Apple iPhone 16 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 9to5mac.com — Marcus Mendes, 2026-08-27
Published there as: “Apple cleared for the second time to pursue documents from federal agencies in antitrust case”
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