A massive security warning has been issued by Apple, affecting tens of millions of users worldwide. The US tech giant confirmed it will no longer offer end-to-end encrypted storage for photos, notes, reminders, and voice memos in the UK due to a government-mandated backdoor requirement.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) describes this as an “emergency for us all,” highlighting the significant threat to customer privacy. Apple’s decision comes after a UK court ruled that the company must build a backdoor into its data storage system, allowing government access.
However, Apple has refused to comply with this request, instead pulling the Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature from UK users. This move is seen as a deliberate attempt to call out the UK’s bluff and avoid compromising user security.
While the change only directly affects UK users, it also impacts anyone messaging a UK user, as messages will now be stored in accessible backups. This raises concerns about data breaches and other threats to customer privacy across Europe.
To mitigate these risks, Apple advises users to make changes, including disabling iCloud syncing or enabling WhatsApp’s own end-to-end encrypted backup. Users can also opt for the Signal app, which offers robust security but lacks iPhone backup capabilities.
In response to the UK mandate, Apple remains committed to offering its users the highest level of security. However, the company’s refusal to build a backdoor has sparked concerns about the precedent set by this ruling and its potential impact on global user privacy.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/02/22/apples-emergency-iphone-warning-change-whatsapp-imessage-settings