UK Govt demands Apple create encryption backdoor to give it access to users’ data

Privacy watchdog argues move is “draconian”

The government wants access to encrypted data, citing the need to tackle criminal gangs. Privacy advocates point out again that back doors, once opened, can be used by anyone.

The UK government has reportedly issued a secret order requiring Apple to create a backdoor in its encrypted cloud service.

Citing sources familiar with the situation, The Washington Post reported on February 7th that the order was issued last month under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) and applies to not just Apple users in the UK but to users worldwide.

The undisclosed order is said to have asked Apple to give UK security officials access to retrieve encrypted content uploaded to Apple's cloud storage.

For this to happen, Apple would likely have to lower the guardrails on its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service, which uses end-to-end encryption to prevent even Apple from accessing users' data.

The iPhone maker has long resisted government attempts to undermine encryption, arguing that backdoors would make its systems vulnerable to hackers and authoritarian regimes.

The company has not publicly commented on the latest order, but it warned in 2023 that it would rather withdraw products with encryption features such as FaceTime and iMessage from the UK than compromise user privacy.

The UK government justifies its request, citing the need to tackle criminal activities, including terrorism and child exploitation, which are increasingly facilitated by encrypted communications.

However, privacy advocates argue that this move constitutes an unprecedented attack on privacy rights. Privacy advocacy group Big Brother Watch labelled the move "draconian," and warned it could set a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes and compromise global security standards.

“We urge the UK government to immediately rescind this draconian order and cease attempts to employ mass surveillance in lieu of the targeted powers already at their disposal,” the group wrote.

Given the long-running debate over whether governments should have access to encrypted data, this demand from the British government is likely to raise tensions between tech companies and governments over encryption policies.

The order could also strain the UK’s data-sharing agreement with the European Union, as the demand for backdoor access might conflict with EU privacy regulations. With Apple expected to resist the order, the dispute might escalate in the coming months.