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Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor
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LOL!
Instead, Trump and President Musk will want to copy the UK and do the same thing here! It's a perfect model for autocrats who desire a police state.
Musk has already shown his hand by illegally accessing data servers and tech systems throughout the government and illegally taking possession of personal, private data.
Musk — and Trump — will mine the data for information on their political opponents as well as on women, minorities, immigrants, green card holders, public health workers, scientists working on global warming, and the family members of all of the above.
… with the huge caveat that a fire, tornado or flood could wipe out your iCloud account.
I still like that kind of brainstorming! We definitely have two competing powerful movements struggling for dominance. On the one hand we have those seeking more control, really an oligarchy, and on the other we have a resurgence of populaces to reassert their natural right to self-determination. In most of the countries involved, the latter is guaranteed by their respective constitutions, if not readily honored by their governments.
1984 was written in the UK after all.
Good question!
We should impose a 50% tariff on all goods imported to the United States from the U.K. and its possessions around the world, until they stop the practice. Threats like that have worked wonders in the most recent U.S. history.
Um, it has happened under the previous administration. Your news sources didn’t tell you about it, because many of them were themselves beneficiaries of USAID largess.
The new administration has a huge mandate to return the power to the people. You are probably thinking of Trump and specifically DOGE as wrecking balls. However, whatever gets wrecked liberates money you will no longer have to send to D.C. That’s more power to you. Spend it on a bass boat or donate it to Planned Parenthood* for all I care. Your having that liberty is the true democratization of the use of citizens’ hard-earned money.
___________
* I wouldn’t stop you, but if I had some personal relationship with you, I’d want to persuade and convince you that you shouldn’t.
I keep two physical backups of all our data at all times, one at home and one in my desk at work. I swap them monthly.
UK government demands access to Apple users' encrypted data
The Home Office served the notice to the tech giant under the Investigatory Powers Act.
www.bbc.co.uk
From the BBC, emphasis mine
And with that, my plan to move over entirely over to Linux has just taken a big step forward. F&*% any government that says the people don't have a right to any privacy. 🤬
You are being facetious, right? Yes, you can do that, but obviously it would not be that useful anymore, because having to overcome that air gap every time you need access to that data would be much too cumbersome.
I agree with you on hoping Trump pushes back on this, but you’ve fallen hook line and sinker for USAID conspiracy theories.
To be fair, this specific point isn't exactly new, see "commercial partners* under https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010s_global_surveillance_disclosures#Global_surveillance. Traditionally the NSA hasn't had much qualms about spying on non-US citizens either, without necessarily telling their governments.
I'm not being facetious. We keep our financial info, taxes, etc. on a air-gapped machine that has never been connected to the internet. You access it by sitting down in front it. My wife keeps a lot of her sensitive legal work on the same machine.
I have nothing of interest on my phone, to anyone.
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Unfortunately, most people need to have setups they won’t have to think about most of the time. Otherwise, necessary backups won’t happen.
LOL! Yeah, I read Ars articles and I find many of those to be pretty solid, but I stay out of the peanut gallery. I only ever dive in there for entertainment value 😁
You're a little late on this. The bill went through Parliament, was scrutinized, passed through the 2nd chamber etc back in 2016. 8 years ago. Lots of us warned people about it enabling such Govt overreach at the time, but it seems fthey weren't paying sufficient attention.
If the WPost isnt to your left-leaning liking, maybe you'd be happier trusting the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20g288yldko
It exactly the kind of smug 'it'll never happen here' complacency from the Guardian reading classes in 2015/6 you're now exhibiting in this thread that led us to where we are now. 🫤
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“Apple is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the UK, rather than break the security promises it made to its users, people familiar with the matter told the publication. However, that would not affect the UK order for backdoor access to the service in other countries, including the United States. Apple has previously said it would consider pulling services such as FaceTime and iMessage from the UK rather than compromise future security.”
Yeah, right. Since when the UK has a worldwide jurisdiction?
Yeah, right. Since when the UK has a worldwide jurisdiction?
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How bizarre that the UK thinks they are entitled to access any of my encrypted data when I don’t live there. Equally bizarre that it would be considered illegal for the public to know such a request is made. Very North Korea.
It isn’t that simple. Yes, Bezos flinched when deciding to have the Post not endorse a presidential candidate. On the other hand, the Post is still losing money and needs an owner with deep pockets. Meanwhile, you should try reading the Post. It’s an excellent publication that routinely beats the New York Times.
I'm reminded of a good quote from Mathis in 2008's Quantum of Solace
Good luck with that; some smaller countries might oblige, while bigger players, e.g. Russia or China will just laugh it off.
I am currently moving everything offline anyway. There are several principal risks now which make using any online services for your data and applications untenable further:
I can see myself using Linux only within a year or two rather than just on the server. And possibly a half decent OSS Android fork such as Lineage/Graphene.
- Political instability and policy enforcement by the US government threatens any US-UK-EU safe-harbour agreements. This risks access to accounts being shut down and data being accessed by third parties against policy and contracts. Also eternal storage of everything you do which can and will be used against you should it be by corrupt court officials or agencies.
- UK and EU mandated government surveillance and data retention.
- General race to the bottom on quality from all the providers. It is starting to become a reliability risk not a benefit over traditional offline backups and file sync options.
- Perpetual price gouging and bumping monthly revenue only.
- Automated policy enforcement by service providers leading to your entire universe being destroyed in a moment's notice with no appeal possibility.
I can see myself using Linux only within a year or two rather than just on the server. And possibly a half decent OSS Android fork such as Lineage/Graphene.