Reports have surfaced alleging that the UK government secretly issued an order to Apple, demanding the creation of a backdoor within iCloud that would grant British law enforcement agencies access to users’ data worldwide—even if that data is protected by end-to-end encryption.
Faced with no viable alternative, Apple ultimately disabled Advanced Data Protection for iCloud within the UK. This feature ensures that all stored data is safeguarded by end-to-end encryption (E2EE), rendering it inaccessible even to Apple itself.
By disabling Advanced Data Protection specifically for UK users, Apple has made a reluctant concession to the government’s demands—albeit in a limited capacity. However, the notion that Apple would introduce a universal backdoor to decrypt data globally remains entirely implausible.
In response, Apple has filed an appeal in the UK, seeking to overturn the government’s secret directive. Should the court rule in its favor, the company could reinstate Advanced Data Protection for iCloud in the region.
The case is being reviewed by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body tasked with overseeing complaints against British security agencies. The government’s classified order was issued under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the very legislation that grants UK authorities such expansive surveillance capabilities.
Apple’s legal challenge hinges on the Technical Capability Notice (TCN), a directive issued by the UK Home Office in 2016, commonly referred to as the Snooper’s Charter. This legislation prohibits companies from disclosing the existence of any warrants or directives issued under its provisions without explicit authorization.
Consequently, the UK government itself is legally bound to neither confirm nor deny the existence of the secret order allegedly issued to Apple in January. The Home Office has thus refused to acknowledge or refute the claim.
Moreover, due to the highly classified nature of these proceedings, the entire appeals process may remain entirely confidential. If Apple ultimately prevails in its legal challenge, the clearest indication would be the reinstatement of Advanced Data Protection for iCloud for users in the UK.
Related Posts:
- Apple Halts iCloud Advanced Data Protection in the UK After Government Demands Backdoor Access
- US Threatens UK Over iCloud Backdoor Demand
