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Why would Chinese government ask Apple for help when they can directly get user data from ISP and Tencent? Chinese local police can read people chat messages in real time.

Can they read iMessages?

Even Apple can't read iMessage. I guess in this case they will simply force you to unlock your iPhone to let them read everything in it.

IIRC, they can't read message data but message metadata, sometimes that's enough for authorities.

Apple already gave China access to all Chinese iCloud data. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/02/5-things-you-...

I don’t see any where stating the organization that made the request. How do you know it’s NSA? I’d imagine it’s more likely the FBI.