Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

BBC ^ | 02/21/2025 | Zoe Kleinman

[BenLurkin]

Apple is taking the unprecedented step of removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK, after the government demanded access to user data.

Advanced Data Protection (ADP) means only account holders can view items such as photos or documents they have stored online through a process known as end-to-end encryption.

But earlier this month the UK government asked for the right to see the data, which currently not even Apple can access.

Apple did not comment at the time but has consistently opposed creating a "backdoor" in its encryption service, arguing that if it did so, it would only be a matter of time before bad actors also found a way in.

Now the tech giant has decided it will no longer be possible to activate ADP in the UK.

It means eventually no UK customer data stored on iCloud - Apple's cloud storage service - will be encrypted, making it all accessible by Apple and shareable with law enforcement, if they have a warrant.

The BBC has approached the government for comment.

In a statement Apple said it was "gravely disappointed" that the security feature would no longer be available to British customers.

[Seruzawa]

Brits. They gave up the Middle East as it is today. Spit.

[dfwgator]

Blame TE Lawrence.

[DiogenesLamp]

Didn’t they do something similarly in China? Or was that Google? Regardless this can be repeated now in any country including the US given the lean of the regime.

Yup.

[DiogenesLamp]

I think you are misreading the situation. The UK is demanding a backdoor so they can decrypt user’s encrypted, private data. Apple fought that, lost, and instead of providing the backdoor is just killing the whole service.

They didn't offer that deal to our government. They simply said "No! We will not allow you to see anyone's data, even with a warrant from a court."

Apparently they are more willing to stand up to our government than they are the British government.

[EasySt]

Hey Elon! Buy Apple and Immediately remove all function from all of their
products in such Communist, totalitarian leaning places with governments like
that one, every single time one of them attempts to pull such BS.

[Wayne07]

Again, I don’t think you fully understand what happened. The UK demanded it happen, and under UK law Apple has to comply with the request immediately, even while they try to appeal. Apple also can not make the request, or appeal public.

So the choice were either

1: Give the UK Govt access, not tell users what was happening, and appeal

2: Turn off the service publicly so users know their data is no longer safely encrypted

The second choice is clearly better for Apple users in the UK, who can now take measures to protect or remove online data.

[linMcHlp]

UK is no longer a friend, no longer an ally.

[WoofDog123]

in the real world, an authoritarian state can take generations to overthrow if the state is willing to do what it takes to suppress any expression of dissent, among other things.

we are seeing some european states quite publicly arrest and jail people for the most harmless social media activity. I think the point is clear.

[Drago]

Apples & Oranges: Individual iPhones are still fully encrypted (if the UK user chooses)(like the US case where Apple refused to help crack an encrypted phone for the FBI)...in this case it is the data flow back & forth from the Apple’s “cloud” to UK users phones and any “cloud back-ups” that can be “back-doored” by the UK law enforcement/government. (do “local” encrypted back-ups vs. “cloud” back-ups).