Apple Fights UK's Demand for iCloud Data Backdoor

[MacRumors]

Apple today filed a legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal in an attempt to quash the UK government's demand for backdoor access to encrypted data, reports Financial Times.

Earlier this year, the UK government ordered Apple to give it secret access to encrypted user data uploaded to iCloud worldwide, through the creation of a backdoor. The UK used its Investigatory Powers Act to justify the demand, but Apple has not complied.

Instead, Apple removed Advanced Data Protection from the UK so that it would not have to provide the government with access to encrypted data. Advanced Data Protection is designed to provide end-to-end encryption to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users for data stored in iCloud.

Apple will undoubtedly fight the UK every step of the way in order to protect user privacy, and the legal challenge that the company filed today could be heard as soon as this month. Apple is not able to discuss the order made by the UK in public due to the terms of the law, so the court case could be heard without public notice.

Apple previously made it clear that it would pull iCloud features from the UK rather than compromise its user security, and while that only extends to Advanced Data Protection right now, it could lead to key features like FaceTime and iMessage being removed in the country. The UK wants backdoor access to iCloud data to fight terrorism and investigate child sex abuse.

Apple fights vehemently against calls for backdoor access to user data, which we saw in 2016 when the U.S. government demanded that Apple unlock the iPhone of a shooter in San Bernardino, California. That led to a long legal battle that did not see Apple compromise its security. The U.S. has lately reversed course on encryption, and has been promoting end-to-end encryption for mobile devices to protect against foreign cyber campaigns.

The U.S. government is now looking into whether the UK's demand has violated the CLOUD act, which keeps the UK from asking for data from U.S. citizens, and vice versa.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Fights UK's Demand for iCloud Data Backdoor

 

[jz0309]

Way to go Apple!

 

[WilliApple]

Apple has the opportunity to say “your government wants your data. Instead of giving it to them, we have turned this service off for the time being” if they do end up shutting down services in the UK.

 

[thefrost]

We will see how this is going to play out.

 

[deaglecat]

good it needs testing in the courts.

 

[randomgeeza]

Good. I have ADP turned on and I am in the UK. I want my data protected and encrypted and I should be allowed to do that. It is my privacy, and it needs to be defended.

 

[gnipgnop]

The U.S. Cloud Act wasn’t created to increase data security. The purpose (as stated by the DOJ during the first Trump administration) was to streamline the process for foreign countries to request and receive data from U.S. based servers.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

All I have to say is:

LMAO!!!!!

I told you not to let a governing body dictate what Apple could do, with something as incredibly stupid and insignificant as charging cable. All that does is pave the way for the next thing. And the next. And the next. This proves itself over and over again in all kinds of spaces with government. This is no surprise at all. They are looking at the victories, and thinking they push for one. They might be right.

 

[spartan1967]

Shouldn’t have Apple done this before removing ADP?

 

[Hank001]

After the previous article on ADP, I asked around. No one was using it. MR should run a poll.

 

[tgwaste]

Dear UK, Keep your Socialist corrupt hands off of our data. - We the People.

 

[kcirtap00]

After the previous article on ADP, I asked around. No one was using it. MR should run a poll.

How much its being used isn't really part of the argument.

 

[H2SO4]

This is not Apples fight. Kudos to them for getting involved but this is a fight of the Uk public, (that will very likely sit back and do nothing).
Time for them to stand up and make a noise about it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They better buckle up ...

Going to have plenty of issues they'll need to fight at home too

 

[tgwaste]

They better buckle up ...

Going to have plenty of issues they'll need to fight at home too

Who? Apple? Sorry, Trump is the boss now. The US won't make Apple do anything of these things. Thats why they just agreed to a 500B investment. It's time for the people of the UK to take the red pill and wake up!

 

[turbineseaplane]

Who? Apple? Sorry, Trump is the boss now. The US won't make Apple do anything of these things. Thats why they just agreed to a 500B investment. It's time for the people of the UK to take the red pill and wake up!

You're saying Trump & Apple are engaged in quid pro quo corruption?

 

[alexhardaker]

Dear UK, Keep your Socialist corrupt hands off of our data. - We the People.

Please refrain from using words you do not understand.

This government is not socialist in any sense of the word. In case you didn’t realise, the dominant economic system across most of the world is neoliberalism. This has been the case since the late 1970s and is still the case today. This is a capitalist system.

Socialism isn’t about “when the government does things”. Broadly speaking, it’s about worker ownership of the means of production. This can come in many forms, some with governments and some without (anarchism).

Socialism has nothing to do with this.

 

[Pezimak]

Dear UK, Keep your Socialist corrupt hands off of our data. - We the People.

Don’t you mean UK ‘Government’s.. we don’t all support them, in fact more and more each day do not support this government.

 

[370zulu]

Say what you want about Apple, but Microsoft and Google would have opened the door and invited them in for tea while serving up data on everyone.

Another reason I will keep buying Apple products.

 

[pappl]

UK has become a socialist hell, using socialist instruments like KGB, Gestapo or Stasi. Don‘t move and support this gangsters.

 

[I7guy]

You're saying Trump & Apple are engaged in quid pro quo corruption?

You can use the word corruption till the cows come home, that doesn’t mean it’s that.

 

[gnipgnop]

Who? Apple? Sorry, Trump is the boss now.

Legally, Trump is the head of the executive branch only. He's not the equivalent of a "boss" for the United States.

 

[Dutch60]

Who? Apple? Sorry, Trump is the boss now. The US won't make Apple do anything of these things. Thats why they just agreed to a 500B investment. It's time for the people of the UK to take the red pill and wake up!

Your boss does make and will make everybody do anything he likes…good or bad. Aren’t there any pills in the US anymore?

 

[Dutch60]

Legally, Trump is the head of the executive branch only. He's not the equivalent of a "boss" for the United States.

Not if it’s up to him. He wants to be the bossiest boss you’ve ever seen. Judging current developments, he is very successful!

 

[bmark]

Anyone who puts important data on the iCloud deserves to give it to the government!