UK Reportedly Withdraws Demand to Access Encrypted iCloud User Data

[MacRumors]

The British government has agreed to withdraw its controversial demand to access Apple users' encrypted iCloud data, according to the U.S. director of intelligence.

Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X (Twitter) the UK had dropped its plans to force Apple to provide a back door that would have "enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties."

According to sources who spoke to the Financial Times, the UK has agreed to rescind the order, but it has yet to be formally withdrawn. The BBC reports that Apple has yet to received any formal communication from either government.

The development follows reports earlier this year that the UK used its Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to demand secret access to encrypted user data uploaded to iCloud worldwide. Apple responded by removing its Advanced Data Protection feature from the UK rather than compromising its security standards.

The British government had sought to keep details of the case private, but Apple filed a legal appeal against a UK that meant the Home Office couldn't keep all the details of its demand out of the public domain.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1957623737232007638

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

The UK's order was particularly controversial as it would have required Apple to provide access to data from users outside the UK without their governments' knowledge – which was what led the U.S. to pressure the UK government to back down. The IPA also makes it illegal for companies to disclose the existence of such government demands.

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Article Link: UK Reportedly Withdraws Demand to Access Encrypted iCloud User Data

 

[Total Respray]

Strange times indeed that the British people have to rely on the US to protect their privacy rights.

 

[kiranmk2]

Probably right after they realised that their age-verification scheme could be bypassed in about 5 minutes by anyone with half a brain...

 

[contacos]

To the public maybe

 

[rp2011]

Good to hear that the US government helped out with this matter. The UK and EU have been getting out of hand going after Apple, Google and other successful American companies with outlandish demands and extortion.

 

[symphony]

Good. They would have been an easy target otherwise.

 

[foobarbaz]

Good to hear that the US government helped out with this matter. The UK and EU have been getting out of hand going after Apple, Google and other successful American companies with outlandish demands and extortion.

The US government has also previously asked for a backdoor.

They're only opposed to someone else getting access. They have no problem with outlandish demands and extertion, as long as its benefiting their agenda.

It's a win for freedom. But the unexpected ally is no friend.

 

[Wando64]

Any news about Apple reactivating encryption in the UK for new users?

 

[cjsuk]

Strange times indeed that the British people have to rely on the US to protect their privacy rights.

To qualify they US are not protecting our rights in the UK. The only thing here is they are protecting is US rights.

No way are they going to turn on ADP again in the UK.

 

[Smartuser]

Good to know that apparently all other governments in the world save for the US were okay with this, either because they like this kind of thing or don't understand the implications.

 

[baconcat_8964]

I wrote to my local MP about this every month since it published.

 

[insomniac86]

Strange times indeed that the British people have to rely on the US to protect their privacy rights.

Did you read the article? There is nothing in there that says that the British rights are being protected by the US.

It explains that the UK gov will be denied access to iCloud accounts.

The UK was bold enough to believe they had the right to demand access to the iCloud data of citizens from all countries.

****ing Madness.

 

[Wando64]

No way are they going to turn on ADP again in the UK.

I don't see why they shouldn't.
In fact I expect this to be a very quick decision to take.

 

[iPadified]

Not surprising really. Unrestricted (?) iCloud access would be similar to having video cameras inside peoples homes that intelligence services could tap into at any time. No one would accept that.

Americans, don't be too proud of yourself. There was a scandal in 2021 where Danish defence intelligence (FE) helped US NSA to "listen" to the overseas internet cables which by the way handles nearly all traffic between Europe to US. Pot calling the cattle black? What is a little bit of iCloud espionage in that context?

 

[mrsmith1]

Good news.

 

[Pezimak]

Interesting video on control of the internet here, Americans should take note as it is a bit if the pot calling the kettle black:

Governments trying to land grab the net really. But whilst the UK government back down over this, I am sure they are thinking of something else to try later.

 

[Dr McKay]

I wrote to my local MP about this every month since it published.

I’ve written to my local one 3 times since Labour were elected and I’ve never heard back. At least the tories would send a generic reply template that addressed none of the concerns I raised.

 

[Adam-Jobs]

The UK. The laughing stock of the world.

 

[Wando64]

I’ve written to my local one 3 times since Labour were elected and I’ve never heard back. At least the tories would send a generic reply template that addressed none of the concerns I raised.

You could always turn up to one of their surgeries with copies of your letters/emails.

 

[Wando64]

The UK. The laughing stock of the world.

Perhaps a bit of an over-reaction?

 

[iPadified]

The UK. The laughing stock of the world.

In that is the case, UK is joining an unfortunately growing club of countries.

 

[m4mario]

A very important win for Apple.

 

[Tanax]

UK is insane right now. Putting people in jail for posting they are critical of their regime, but protecting child abusers from 3rd world countries.

 

[Jackbequickly]

It amazes me what the UK is doing with so little citizen protest. You get what you vote for!

 

[Imperial926]

The UK. The laughing stock of the world.

We’re pretty bad but the US surely claims the ultimate prize right now and by a large margin.