The US Director of National Intelligence announced that the UK has dropped its demand to access global Apple users’ data if required, following a fierce backlash from privacy campaigners. The move comes after the UK had issued Apple with a formal notice demanding the right to access encrypted data from its users worldwide.
In December, the UK government sent a notice to Apple requiring it to provide a “back door” that would allow access to protected encrypted data, potentially encroaching on civil liberties. However, this was met with strong opposition from tech companies, including Apple itself, which stated that it had never built a backdoor and would never do so.
Apple responded by withdrawing its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service from the UK market and challenging the order in court. The case is set to be heard at a tribunal in 2026. While it’s unclear if the tribunal will proceed, the news has been welcomed by privacy campaigners.
Civil rights groups Liberty and Privacy International had previously launched separate legal actions against the UK government over its demands for access to encrypted data. They had expressed concerns that creating a back door to citizens’ private data would pose a significant threat to personal security and civil liberties.
US Senator Ron Wyden stated that if true, the UK’s climbdown was a win for everyone who values secure communications, but emphasized the need for clear details of any agreement. The US and UK have a Data Access Agreement in place, which allows for the sharing of data for law enforcement purposes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj2m3rrk74o