DOJ Subpoenas Tech Giants for EZ Lynk Emissions Device Users

Key Details The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed Apple, Google, Amazon, and Walmart requesting names, addresses, and phone numbers for users of EZ Lynk, a Cayman Islands-based company. The company allegedly violated the Clean Air Act by selling defeat devices that allow drivers to remove emissions controls from vehicles. Hundreds of thousands of users could be affected by the subpoenas. How the System Works EZ Lynk's product includes three components: the Auto Agent physical device that plugs into vehicle computers, the EZ Lynk Cloud platform storing deletion software, and a smartphone app connecting users to the cloud service. This allows customers to remotely install emissions deletion software on their vehicles, affecting both car and truck owners across the U.S. Why It Matters The DOJ plans to use user information to identify potential witnesses for an ongoing civil lawsuit filed in 2021 against EZ Lynk. The company cited privacy concerns about releasing personal data to federal authorities. Apple and Google have announced plans to fight the subpoenas. Recent Development In January 2026, the DOJ announced it will no longer pursue criminal charges for emissions device removal in diesel trucks, though civil penalties remain available when appropriate.