The UK government has issued a new order allowing it to demand access to the personal data of Apple’s British users, backed by an appropriate warrant in cases where national security is threatened. The move comes as part of the ongoing dispute between Apple and the Home Office over data privacy.
Apple maintains that privacy is crucial to its business and will not compromise on data protection worldwide. However, the UK government says it needs access to private data to keep citizens safe, citing a need for enhanced security due to rising incidents of data breaches and cyber attacks.
The new order replaces an earlier one allowing UK authorities to access Apple user data anywhere in the world, which was met with criticism from the US administration. Apple had previously removed its strongest data protection tool, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), from the UK market due to the dispute.
A tribunal hearing is set for January 2026, and civil liberties groups are urging caution, warning that a similar order issued to other companies could undermine security for everyone.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c740r0m4mzjo