UK drops its controversial backdoor mandate into Apple encryption after US pushback
The UK has withdrawn its request for Apple to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud data, a mandate that earlier this year led Apple to remove Advanced Data Protection for new UK users and warn existing ones the feature would be suspended. The government had secretly ordered Apple to provide access to encrypted files stored in iCloud worldwide.
Apple challenged the order in court, initially under secrecy, but by April it gained the right to discuss the case publicly. At the same time, US officials reviewed whether the UK’s demand violated the bilateral CLOUD Act, which prohibits either country from requiring access to the other’s data.
The reversal was announced by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who cited cooperation between US and UK leadership. Reports suggest Britain backed down under US pressure and internal concerns, although is still unclear if Apple will reinstate Advanced Data Protection for UK users.
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Related news
External links
- UK has ‘agreed to drop’ demand for access to Apple user data, says UFinancial Times • Official source
- US spy chief says UK has dropped its Apple backdoor demandTechCrunch
- UK has backed down on demand to access US Apple user data, spy chief saysthe Guardian
- UK backs down in Apple privacy row, US saysBBC
- UK drops demand for backdoor into Apple encryptionThe Verge
Comments
Why does this sound like a cover-up operation? Now I trust Apple iCloud even less.
Now we need Apple to switch Advanced Data Protection on again for the UK.
A rare case of the US doing something good. The CLOUD Act needs to go though.
I should clarify the article writer made the CLOUD Act the opposite of what it is. It allows access to data by the US in any country regardless of that countries laws. It is against privacy.