The British authorities want to force Apple to break its end-to-end encryption protection and allow it to spy on all data stored by users around the world in its cloud storage service.
The Washington Post was the first to report on the non -revealed order that the Big Tech giant allegedly received last month.
People who are familiar with the case told the publication that Apple is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in Britain rather than undermining privacy and security, as its services promised. Still, this may not be enough for Apple to completely avoid the requirement to comply with the requirements for encryption in other countries.
The British Order was issued in accordance with the controversial law on investigation of investigation of 2016 and adds the ongoing pressure in Europe and further to create back doors in encrypted software that can facilitate law enforcement’s criminal investigations. However, technologists and privacy experts have long argued about how this would undermine the overall security of citizens, while the fuel for arbitrary mass surveillance. After Apple, they now fear that Meta and Google could become Britain’s next goal.
UK’s request for encryption backdoor
The British message is targeting all encrypted content iPhone, iPad and MacOS users around the world have saved using Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP).
While this is not a standard feature, users can manually activate this protection for extra privacy and security to encrypt all the stored data. This means that not even Apple can access these files. It is worth mentioning that the FBI also expressed concern for this feature when it was launched in 2022.
So far, Apple, and even the British home office, has refused to share comments on the case, with the latter saying it does not confirm or deny the existence of such a message.
Estimated snooper -diagram of his critics, the Investigation Power Act provides law enforcement “to force help from companies when it is necessary to collect evidence,” said an anonymous Washington Post source, allegedly close to the case.
Worse, among other things, last year’s proposed amendment to the law seeks to demand that all tech companies ask for approval from the home office before adding new security or privacy features, included encryption. At that time, Apple strongly criticized the proposal and argued that it “would undermine basic human rights.”
“This is a deep about step that has enormous consequences for both encryption and for people’s data protection around the world,” Jurgita Miseviciute told Techradar.
The provider behind one of the best VPN, encrypted E -mail and drift services on the market, fears Proton that compliance with Apple would create a dangerous precedent in the fight against encrypted apps.
Other experts and advocates of privacy fear that Google and Meta may be next. Both companies actually offer encrypted backup options.
In a tweet about X, the director of Big Brother Watch, Silkie Carlo, wrote, “It is completely unprecedented for a government in any democracy to take our ability to have a private conversation without the state listening, away from millions of its Own citizens – not to say the world.
However, it is not only our privacy at stake. Experts also claim that encryption back doors on a technical level will create more problems than they solve by giving cyber criminals the opportunity to exploit vulnerable entry points.
“Back door for encryption that only lets the good guys in are impossible,” said misviciute. “Removal of access to end-to-end encryption in the UK for people’s files would be a big step back that would create a two-layer system, erode confidence and expose British users to surveillance and cyber threats.”
