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The request was made by the Home Office under the Investigatory Powers Act, which legally prevents the details of such notices from being made public
The US government has made similar requests in the past, but Apple has refused to comply. (AP file photo)
The UK government, led by Keir Starmer, has requested access to encrypted data stored in Apple’s cloud service, which can only be accessed by the account holder as Apple itself cannot view it due to its encryption system.
The request was made by the Home Office under the Investigatory Powers Act, which legally prevents the details of such notices from being made public.
According to a BBC report, Apple declined to comment on the matter, while the Home Office stated that it does not comment on operational matters.
“We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices,” the UK Home Office said.
Privacy International has strongly criticised the move, calling it an “unprecedented attack” on individuals’ private data. Caroline Wilson Palow, the charity’s legal director, said, “This is a fight the UK should not have picked,” warning that the move could embolden oppressive regimes.
The government’s notice is aimed at content stored using Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP), which encrypts data so that even Apple cannot access it. This opt-in service, however, comes with the risk that users cannot recover their data if they lose access to their account.
While the notice does not imply that authorities will begin inspecting everyone’s data, it is believed to be a measure for national security concerns. The government would need to follow a legal process, provide a legitimate reason, and obtain permission for accessing data from a specific account.
Apple has previously stated it would consider withdrawing its security services from the UK market rather than comply with demands to create “back doors” for authorities to access encrypted data.
Cybersecurity experts also warn that such vulnerabilities could be exploited by malicious actors once created.
Despite past attempts, no Western government has yet been successful in forcing tech giants like Apple to weaken their encryption standards. The US government has made similar requests in the past, but Apple has refused to comply.
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United Kingdom (UK)