The British government has issued a new order to Apple. It demands access to encrypted cloud backups of UK users.
This move revives a privacy battle paused in August.
Order Limits Scope to British Users
The Home Office sent the technical capability notice in early September. It targets only British citizens’ iCloud data. This differs from a January order that sought global access.
Apple must create a way for officials to view end-to-end encrypted information. This includes messages, photos, and documents. The government acts under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. It argues the access aids law enforcement in fighting crime.
Privacy groups warn of risks. A backdoor could let hackers or foreign governments in. “This strikes at the heart of user security,” Privacy International said in a statement.
The order affects business users too. Companies rely on iCloud for secure storage. Weakened encryption might expose trade secrets.
Timeline of UK-Apple Encryption Clash
The dispute started in January 2025. The Home Office issued a broad technical capability notice. It required Apple to disable Advanced Data Protection worldwide.
Apple disabled the feature for new UK users in February. Existing users faced a deadline to turn it off.
In April, Apple appealed at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The company argued the order overreached. U.S. officials pushed back. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard led talks. In August, she announced the UK dropped the global demand.
Now, the narrower order restarts the fight. Apple has not confirmed it but restated opposition to backdoors. “We have never built a backdoor,” the company said in past statements.
How Backdoor Demand Shifts Privacy Landscape
Experts say compliance could harm Apple’s reputation. Users might switch to rivals with stronger encryption. Law enforcement defends the need. “We must keep citizens safe,” a Home Office spokesperson said. They cite cases where encryption hid child abuse or terrorism.
Critics counter that backdoors weaken security for all. The Electronic Frontier Foundation called it a “serious risk.” Business readers should note potential impacts. Firms using Apple devices face data exposure risks in the UK.
No firm numbers on affected users exist. Apple has millions in the UK market.
