UK Demands Unprecedented Access to Apple Users’ Encrypted Cloud Data

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The UK government has reportedly ordered Apple to provide broad access to encrypted user data stored on its cloud service, according to a Washington Post report on Friday. This request is reportedly far-reaching, as it seeks blanket access to all encrypted data, rather than just a specific account, making it one of the most expansive demands in major democracies.

The order comes under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which allows the government to intercept communications and obtain data for security purposes. However, the level of access demanded from Apple in this case has never been requested before. The UK Interior Ministry has declined to comment, and Apple did not respond to inquiries outside of regular business hours.

Apple’s cloud services offer a feature called Advanced Data Protection, allowing users to lock their data with encryption that only they can unlock. This system is a safeguard that even Apple cannot override, ensuring user privacy. However, the UK government’s demand seeks to bypass these privacy protections, raising significant concerns about privacy and encryption rights.

This order follows a broader UK initiative to update its laws, including changes to the Investigatory Powers Act and the introduction of the Online Safety Act of 2023. The latter requires companies to address harmful content, such as child sexual abuse material, on their platforms, but tech firms like Meta (with WhatsApp) and Signal have voiced concerns about how such regulations could undermine encryption.

In the past, Apple has resisted similar government demands. In 2016, the company fought off a U.S. court order to unlock an encrypted iPhone connected to a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

MediaTek Prepares for Potential US Tariffs Amid Uncertainty

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MediaTek, Taiwan’s leading chip design firm, has been running simulations in anticipation of potential U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods, according to CEO Rick Tsai. Despite the uncertainty surrounding this issue, Tsai expressed confidence that the impact would be “manageable” in 2025.

Taiwan’s tech industry, including giants like TSMC, faces the risk of tariffs as U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed such measures to incentivize semiconductor production within the United States. On the campaign trail, Trump criticized Taiwan for allegedly taking U.S. semiconductor business.

Trump has outlined plans to impose tariffs on imported chips, as well as other products such as pharmaceuticals and steel, though no specific timeline has been set. When asked about the potential effects on MediaTek, Tsai referred to the situation as “very unpredictable,” but assured that the company is taking proactive measures, such as simulations, to prepare for the possible changes.

Although Tsai acknowledged the unpredictability of the situation, he believes the impact of any tariffs in the short term will be manageable, especially for 2025. “There are so many variables, so it’s very difficult to give an accurate estimate now,” he said.

In addition to trade concerns, MediaTek is facing pressure from the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup whose lower-cost models are posing a challenge to Western tech investments in chipmakers and data centers. Despite this, Tsai remains optimistic about the AI market, noting that the spread of AI will benefit average users.

MediaTek’s shares have outperformed the broader market in 2025, showing a 7.8% gain so far, while the overall market has gained only 1.9%. However, the company’s shares closed flat on Friday.

CATL Resumes Operations at Jiangxi Lithium Mine, UBS Reports

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Chinese battery giant CATL (300750.SZ) is resuming production at its lithium lepidolite mine in Jiangxi province, according to a note from UBS published on Thursday. This comes four months after earlier reports of the mine’s closure sparked a surge in lithium mining stock prices.

UBS’s report indicates that mining operations have “currently resumed,” based on information from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), though further details were not disclosed. UBS declined to comment further, and CATL did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for more information.

Two anonymous battery metals traders confirmed that mining activities had indeed restarted at the Jiangxi mine. CATL’s mine in the southern province of Jiangxi has been an important contributor to China’s growing lithium supply, which is essential for the global battery market. When the mine was reportedly closed in September, lithium stocks saw a significant rally.

In response to queries, CATL had previously stated that it adjusted its lithium production in the Yichun area of Jiangxi province. Lepidolite mining is known to be more expensive than extracting lithium from brine, but UBS analysts believe the resumption is driven by low inventories and CATL’s ability to reduce costs by mixing production from this site with higher-grade ores.

On Friday, the most-traded November lithium carbonate futures contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange closed at 77,800 yuan ($10,675.81) per metric ton, showing a modest 0.3% increase from the previous day. However, prices are still down by 4.75% from a recent high reached on January 20. CATL’s share price closed at 261.28 yuan per share on Friday, marking a 3.2% increase from Thursday.