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.