British and U.S. officials have engaged in private discussions to address concerns that the UK is pressuring Apple Inc. to weaken encryption protections for American users. According to sources familiar with the matter, the talks were initiated by British authorities following backlash over their request for Apple to bypass encryption in specific national security and criminal investigations.
The controversy intensified after Apple disabled its most advanced encrypted cloud storage feature in the UK, a move seen as a direct response to the British mandate issued in January. This development raised alarms in the U.S., where officials fear that any precedent allowing government access to encrypted data could undermine privacy and cybersecurity on a global scale.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently called for an inquiry into the issue, describing it as a “clear and egregious violation of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties.” She further warned that creating a backdoor for UK authorities could expose Apple users’ data to exploitation by hostile cyber actors. Apple has appealed the UK’s directive, with the case set to be heard in a closed-door session at London’s High Court due to national security concerns.
Neither Apple nor Gabbard’s office has commented on the matter. Meanwhile, UK officials insist they are not seeking unrestricted access to private communications but are instead looking for a balanced approach to national security. However, critics argue that any compromise on encryption could set a dangerous precedent, potentially affecting users beyond the UK and the U.S.
