UK government demands access to Apple users’ encrypted data

The UK government has requested that it be able to access encrypted data stored by Apple users all over the world in its cloud service.

Currently, Apple account holder can access the data stored in this way. The technology giant itself cannot be seen.

Legally, the notice that the Ministry of Interior does not be announced under the Law of the Investigation Forces, and Apple refused to comment.

The news was reported for the first time Washington Post Quoting sources familiar with the matter, and the BBC spoke to similar contacts.

The Ministry of Interior said: “We do not comment on operational issues, including, for example, to confirm or deny the existence of any such notifications.”

The notification applies to all stored content using advanced data protection from Apple (ADP), which codes the data that the Apple itself cannot see it.

It is a restriction service and not all users choose to activate it.

If they lose access to their account, the added encryption means that there is no way to recover any of their data.

The company has already said that it will withdraw security services from the UK market instead of compliance with any government demands to weaken them by creating the so -called “back doors” to grant authorities to user data upon request.

Cyber ​​security experts agree that as soon as there is such an entry point, it is only a matter of time before the bad actors discovered it.

The withdrawal of the product from the United Kingdom may not be sufficient to ensure compliance – the Law on the Investigation Power all over the world applies to any technical company with a market in the UK, even if it is not based in Britain.

The technology giant can resume the government’s request, but it cannot delay the implementation of the ruling during the operation even if it is ultimately canceled, according to the legislation.

The government argues that encryption enables criminals to hide more easily, and the United States Investigation in the United States has also criticized the ADP tool.

Professor Alain Woodward, a cybersecurity expert from a Syrian University, said that he was “stunned” by the news, and described Big Brother Watch. Reports as “worrying”.

“This misleading attempt to confront crime and terrorism will not make the United Kingdom safer, but it will lead to the erosion of basic rights and civil freedoms of all population,” the group said in a statement.

A charity for children in the UK has previously described NSPCC as encryption as in the confrontation line for child abuse because it enables the aggressors to share hidden content.

But Apple says that the privacy of its customers is at the heart of all its products and services.

In 2024, the company objected to the proposed changes in the investigation powers law, describing it as an “unprecedented transgression” of the government.

The changes also included giving the government the authority to take new security measures before implementing them. They were transferred to the law.

“The main issue that comes from such forces that he is exercising is that it is unlikely to lead to the result they want,” said Lisa Forte, a Cyber ​​Security expert from Red Goat.

“Criminals and terrorists will only judge the platforms and other technologies to avoid criminalization. Therefore, it is the average, the citizen committed to the law who suffers from the loss of their privacy.”