The U.S. Director of National Intelligence has indicated that the United Kingdom has retracted its demand for Apple to provide access to encrypted data of global users when requested. This move follows previous instructions that would have allowed government access to protected data, raising concerns over civil liberties. Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. politician, mentioned the withdrawal in a post on social media. However, Apple has not received any formal communication on this matter from either the U.S. or UK governments.
The UK government stated it does not comment on operational matters and the existence of such notices. There have long been joint security and intelligence arrangements between the U.S. and UK aimed at addressing serious threats like terrorism and child exploitation, including the role of technology in these issues. In December 2022, the UK had issued a formal notice requiring Apple to allow access to encrypted data, but due to the nature of Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature, the company cannot access data for users who have activated this security tool without compromising their own encryption methods. Apple has stated it has never built a backdoor for its services and has withdrawn ADP from the UK, initiating legal proceedings to challenge the order scheduled for a tribunal hearing in early 2026.
The specifics of the governmental order are not publicly known and it remains unclear if other tech companies received similar demands. WhatsApp reported it has not been approached regarding this issue. Privacy advocates had expressed significant concern about the original order, describing it as a potential threat to personal security. The legal framework facilitating data sharing between the U.S. and UK includes the Data Access Agreement, which allows cooperation for law enforcement purposes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj2m3rrk74o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss