UK Government Issues New Order to Access iCloud User Data

[IIGS User]

A back door for the UK will become a back door for every country that collaborates with the UK when it comes to intelligence. No government can resist access to all that juicy data. “Hey, UK. You guys have access to this. Take a peak for us, eh?”. Of COURSE they will. I guarantee it. No doubt in my mind.

Apple should do everything and anything they have to to avoid putting back doors into iCloud user data. Even if it meant not providing iCloud services in the UK anymore.

If they do it for the UK, eventually every country that wants it will have access to it.

Only winning move is not to play. Apple needs to stand firm on this.

My data is super boring. My life is super boring. But that doesn’t mean I want the government to have access to my data.

 

[contacos]

I used to think living in the UK could be cool, but with their surveillance state, penalizing people for saying things in social media, and other insanity I no longer think that. Evidently living in the UK means the government deserves access to everything about you. I am not one who believes in the "If you aren't doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about argument".

They have been a surveillance state since before the London bombing. I remember going on a school trip to London in 2005 and I was " amazed" by the amount of CCTV literally everywhere

 

[switz]

A private conversation today means being in a place with NO electricity, no always listening Apple gear within a quarter mile, and in a structure where sound does not vibrate the outer surface and to viable way for lip reading from the exterior.

Any written notes must be shredded into fine bits and blended with sand in a blender that is poured into concrete.

All doable, right?

Orwell was spot on in his "1984" written in Burma decades ago. Even down to the television monitoring his exercise and him getting corrections on style.

Remember, there is no such thing as a deleted email. NAS has all the backups you will ever need

 

[ginkobiloba]

It’s not just the UK. The European Union is about to do the same thing with “ChatControl”. It will require mass scanning of private communications, including encrypted conversations.

The fact that this is happening simultaneously in the UK and the EU ( and it looks like Australia is about to do the same as well ) can’t be coincidence, but rather a coordinated movement from various governments around the world.

Parliamentary question | Proposed Chat Control law presents new blow for privacy | E-003250/2025 | European Parliament

Question for written answer E-003250/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

www.europarl.europa.eu

 

[mikebenton]

From all the comments I've read from other stories, folks from the UK seem to be in line with added regulation and government accessibility. I believe this is how they overwhelmingly vote (Labour Party). So when I read this story, I don't think the 'subjects' of the UK are disappointed. I guess this is maybe just a technical challenge Apple would rather not have to deal with.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The good news for Apple is that they already know exactly how to roll over and play fetch for a government.

See: Apple in China

 

[TheColtr]

The UK never left the monarchy system, sure they “elect” a parliament, but the mindset, the feudalistic system idea of the few ruling over the masses is still very much present.

Say what you want about the US, but in most countries “rights” are given by the government (meaning they can be taken away by the government). In the US “rights” are recognized as inherent to humans, given by a creator, and thus the government may not restrict those rights except within limited circumstances (you can’t slander/libel someone).

The US is very distinct, many countries have copied “democratic ideas” like elections, but none have willingly recognized that humans have inherent rights from a power higher than the government and limited itself in accordance with that.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

A private conversation today means being in a place with NO electricity, no always listening Apple gear within a quarter mile, and in a structure where sound does not vibrate the outer surface and to viable way for lip reading from the exterior.

Any written notes must be shredded into fine bits and blended with sand in a blender that is poured into concrete.

All doable, right?

Orwell was spot on in his "1984" written in Burma decades ago. Even down to the television monitoring his exercise and him getting corrections on style.

Remember, there is no such thing as a deleted email. NAS has all the backups you will ever need

If you are being selectively and actively tracked, there is little you can do about it...I mean, I do cave exploration/mapping as a hobby, and I'm pretty untrackable when I'm two miles back in a cave no human has ever seen and 200ft underground, but that's unusual.

..but for day-to-day tracking, any time away from tech is fine, especially if you live outside of a metro area. There is nothing around my home but land and trees. You don't always need your phone on you, and you don't always have to have a smart speaker nearby.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The UK never left the monarchy system, sure they “elect” a parliament, but the mindset, the feudalistic system idea of the few ruling over the masses is still very much present.

Say what you want about the US, but in most countries “rights” are given by the government (meaning they can be taken away by the government). In the US “rights” are recognized as inherent to humans, given by a creator, and thus the government may not restrict those rights except within limited circumstances (you can’t slander/libel someone).

The US is very distinct, many countries have copied “democratic ideas” like elections, but none have willingly recognized that humans have inherent rights from a power higher than the government and limited itself in accordance with that.

I've got a bad news update about this "US" you speak of ...

 

[centauratlas]

The penalising people for social media posts is for incitement, not just saying things. Lucy Connoly the far right's idol told people to burn down hotels with people inside. That's not sharing an oppinion, that's a crime whether in a pub, or on social media.

The Home office can do one with this invasion of privacy and overreach.

That is NOT what was said. I'd urge everyone to read the actual statement instead of listening to a twisted version of it.

 

[Fender2112]

If the key fits one back door. Wouldn't it be trivial to make a key to fit all back doors.
One crack in the foundation can make the whole thing crumble.

 

[Fender2112]

The UK never left the monarchy system, sure they “elect” a parliament, but the mindset, the feudalistic system idea of the few ruling over the masses is still very much present.

Say what you want about the US, but in most countries “rights” are given by the government (meaning they can be taken away by the government). In the US “rights” are recognized as inherent to humans, given by a creator, and thus the government may not restrict those rights except within limited circumstances (you can’t slander/libel someone).

The US is very distinct, many countries have copied “democratic ideas” like elections, but none have willingly recognized that humans have inherent rights from a power higher than the government and limited itself in accordance with that.

Dude, what US do you live in? Have you even watched the news since 1903?

 

[macbookj0e]

Just how I feel about Apple wielding terms like "security and privacy" to justify and defend their excessive cut of all revenue flowing across iOS/iPadOS.

There are no white knights here.

Agreed.

 

[Pezimak]

Ironic that this government is interested in tackling child sexual abuse. They just want as much access to everyone's data as they can get for state control. They can bugger off!

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Boy, the next decade sure will be interesting…

Wait, this decade hasn’t been interesting enough?!?

 

[StevieD100]

Authoritarianism has been going 'round lately, hasn't it? Concerning is an understatement.

If you think that the Starmer government is bad, just wait for Nigel 'Trump Light' Farage to become Prime Minister. He will make the country a full implimentation of Project 2025. I may not be around to see it but it is coming. He is like his master DJT in promising the earth from day 1 and not delivering a thing.

 

[delsoul]

Starmer just doing as he’s told

 

[TwoBytes]

Apple will have to say no, otherwise they will be saying 'yes' to the rest of the world.

Anyway, I thought Apple couldn't even access iCloud data for "Advanced Data Protection"

EDIT. Even with ADP contacts, calendar and other stuff is not safe.
Apple just need to make it completely inaccessible so they can't say yes even if they wanted (which is the impression Apple give every keynote..)

 

[I7guy]

Just how I feel about Apple wielding terms like "security and privacy" to justify and defend their excessive cut of all revenue flowing across iOS/iPadOS.

I agree exactly the same scenario. /s not going into the obvious reasons why this analogy falls far short.

There are no white knights here.

Apple is the white knight.

 

[kiranmk2]

I used to think living in the UK could be cool, but with their surveillance state, penalizing people for saying things in social media, and other insanity I no longer think that. Evidently living in the UK means the government deserves access to everything about you. I am not one who believes in the "If you aren't doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about argument".

The UK is essentially a surveillance state now, and with Starmer trying to make this digital ID a thing it’s just getting worse and worse.

Be well, my UK cousins.

But people said the UK is good I thought. Amazing how the voices on here are quiet now

The UK is fine. We have laws against incitement to violence and extreme hate speech, but otherwise you can say what you want (legally speaking). Yes, we've had the same "cancel culture" in the last 10 years or so, but that has been driven socially rather than legally. The UK is no more a danger to free speach (and London is no more unsafe) than Portland is a "war-zone." Case in point, the UK authorities not only permitted, but also provided security for a march and gathering in favour of the far right activist Tommy Robinson a few weeks ago.

I don't see the issue with the digital IDs. It's estimated that >90% of adults hold either a driving licence or passport, and both of these contain much more information than the proposed digital ID.

That is NOT what was said. I'd urge everyone to read the actual statement instead of listening to a twisted version of it.

This woman volentarily plead guilty to the charges and was sentenced by the courts, not the government. You can opine that the sentence was too long (m open to that argument), but sentencing is down to individual courts.

Back to the actual article, I can't believe the UK is trying this again, given that the government is desparate to stay on the right side of Trump and he is actively against any restrictions on US tech firms. My prediction is this is going nowhere.

 

[MBAir2010]

i'm good with this as long as Aston Villa keeps on hitting the ol' onion bag!
cheer-e-o mates!

 

[Tdude96]

I did see a UK MP bellyaching the other day regarding Starlink's research into LEO 5G connectivity for personal devices. The primary theme of it was that if Starlink gives people the opportunity to communicate freely with E2E encryption and without any sort of terrestrial state-controlled infrastructure, it'll become very difficult - if not impossible - for governments to censor people, monitor what they're saying, or to shut down communication the government doesn't like. Even if it was made illegal to possess such a device, without the involvement of terrestrial infrastructure, it'd be very difficult to track down users. Apple should be looking into creative avenues and modern solutions like that for services if they're serious about protecting privacy.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Wait, this decade hasn’t been interesting enough?!?

The sequel is going to be directed by Michael Bay, so if not more interesting it'll at least be flashier.

 

[now i see it]

Just don't back up to iCloud. Problem solved.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Just don't back up to iCloud. Problem solved.

That doesn't stop apps from syncing and storing data, via iCloud, in the background, which you can't turn off or opt-out from.