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UK Renews Push for Apple to Open Cloud Access for British User Data

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The British government has issued a new order to Apple (AAPL.O) demanding the creation of a backdoor into its iCloud storage service — this time limited to British users’ data, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The move marks the government’s second attempt to gain access to encrypted data stored by Apple, following the company’s appeal earlier this year against a broader order that sought access to both UK and U.S. citizens’ data. The earlier mandate was dropped after U.S. intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, warned that such access could expose sensitive personal data to cybercriminals and foreign governments.

APPLE MAINTAINS REFUSAL TO CREATE BACKDOOR

Apple reiterated its long-standing position that it will not build a backdoor into its systems, citing user privacy and global security risks. “We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services — and we never will,” Apple said in a statement on Wednesday.

The company also confirmed that it was forced to withdraw its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users in February due to the government’s demands. The feature, which offers end-to-end encryption for iCloud data, ensures that only the user — not even Apple — can decrypt stored information.

“Apple is still unable to offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users, and current users will eventually need to disable this feature,” the company said. “ADP protects iCloud data with end-to-end encryption, meaning only the user can access it on trusted devices.”

GOVERNMENT DEFENDS SECURITY ACTIONS

A spokesperson for the UK government declined to confirm the existence of the new order but said:

“We will always take all actions necessary at the domestic level to keep UK citizens safe.”

The latest demand comes under Britain’s Investigatory Powers Act, often called the “Snooper’s Charter,” which allows the government to compel tech firms to provide access to encrypted communications under certain conditions.

Apple’s ongoing appeal against the earlier order is being heard by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), the UK’s top court for intelligence-related cases.

The standoff underscores the growing global tension between governments seeking digital surveillance capabilities and technology companies defending encryption as a cornerstone of privacy and cybersecurity.

U.S. Lawmakers Warn UK: Encryption Backdoor Order to Apple Threatens Global Cybersecurity

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Senior U.S. lawmakers have expressed sharp criticism over the United Kingdom’s order requiring Apple to create a backdoor into its end-to-end encrypted services, warning that such a move could weaken global cybersecurity and violate privacy rights.

What Happened?

  • U.S. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast sent a joint letter to UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging a reconsideration of the order, known as a Technical Capability Notice (TCN).

  • The TCN compels Apple to make encrypted user data accessible to UK authorities, prompting Apple to withdraw its Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK earlier this year.

“Creating a backdoor… introduces systemic vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes,” the lawmakers warned.

Key Concerns from U.S. Lawmakers:

  • Global Implications: Because Apple serves users worldwide, any security backdoor would have ramifications for U.S. citizens and others outside the UK.

  • International Law Violation? The lawmakers argue the UK’s TCN may breach the U.S.-UK CLOUD Act agreement, which prohibits orders requiring decryption.

  • Secrecy and Transparency Issues: UK law forbids Apple from disclosing the existence of the order—even to the U.S. Department of Justice, its own home government.

  • Human Rights Risk: The TCN “conflicts with international human rights standards,” they said, citing European Court of Human Rights precedent protecting encryption under the right to privacy.

Apple’s Position:

Apple has consistently refused to build backdoors into its devices, stating that doing so would compromise the security of all users, not just those under investigation. The company is challenging the TCN at the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

UK Government Response:

The Home Office maintains that access to individual data would still require a separate judicial warrant, not blanket access. However, critics argue that weakening encryption—even with controls—creates irreparable security risks.