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UK agrees to drop its Apple encryption backdoor request  but digital rights
experts aren't ready to celebrate

Date:
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:42:16 +0000

Description:
For now, the power to undermine encryption remains in the UK law under the
Investigatory Powers Act. Digital rights experts now call for an amendment.

FULL STORY

The UK has agreed to back down on its request to create an encryption 
backdoor into Apple's iCloud system for authorities to access. 

The US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed the UK
U-turn in a post on X on Monday , August 18, 2025, adding that such a 
backdoor "would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of
American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties." 

While welcoming the decision, digital rights experts aren't quite ready to
call it a victory. The power to undermine encryption remains in the UK law,
fueling calls for an amendment.

UK's U-turn on iCloud's backdoor 

Apple killed its iCloud's end-to-end encryption feature in the UK in February
after it was hit by a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016
Investigatory Powers Act, instead of creating the requested backdoor. The Big
Tech giant has challenged this request in Court since April. 

US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have reportedly strongly
opposed the UK order, warning against "systemic vulnerabilities" that such a
backdoor could create. 

While not a default feature, once enabled, Apple's Advanced Data Protection
(ADP) provides an extra layer of protection across all iCloud-stored data by
using end-to-end encryption technology, meaning not even Apple can access the
files. It's an extra measure of protection that Brits have been unable to use
for months. 

A UK government spokesperson told Reuters that both countries have worked
together to tackle security threats and ensure citizens' privacy remains
protected. 

Apple has yet to share more details on how and when ADP is set to be
reintroduced for UK users.

"A welcome step" 

US officials were far from the only party concerned about the negative impact
that a backdoor into Apple's advanced encryption could have had on people's
privacy and security. 

Over 100 internet leaders, academics, organizations, and companies also 
raised the alarm only a few days after authorities issued the encryption
backdoor order . 

 Encryption is a technology responsible for preventing unauthorized access to
user data. Specifically, the best VPN and secure messaging apps use 
end-to-end encryption to ensure online communications remain private between
the sender and the receiver. A level of protection that is increasingly
becoming crucial as major cyberattacks like the Salt Typhoon attack are now
the norm. 

That's why digital rights groups have welcomed the UK's decision to back down
on Apple's encryption backdoor request. The Home Office has reportedly agreed
to DROP its demand that Apple allow government spying on encrypted
messages.This is a welcome step towards protecting the privacy of millions of
users in the UK.

In a post on X , the Interim Director of Big Brother Watch, Rebecca Vincent,
said: "This is a welcome step towards protecting the privacy of millions of
users in the UK." 

That said, the power to issue similar encryption backdoor orders still 
remains a possibility in the UK law under the Investigatory Powers Act . 

This is why, according to experts, an amendment to these powers is what 
should come next. 

"We repeat our call on the Home Office to drop its use of Technical 
Capability Notices (TCNs) seeking to break encryption, which represents a
serious threat to our ability to communicate privately," said again Vincent,
arguing that the Investigatory Powers Act " is unfit for purpose and should 
be amended to protect privacy rights without delay."

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/uk-agrees-to-drop-its-apple
-encryption-backdoor-request-but-digital-rights-experts-arent-ready-to-celebra
te

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