- Apple has announced that it is drawing its advanced data protection function from UK
- The decision comes after the British government requested an encryption backdoor
- New users will not be able to access the feature where existing users lose functionality in the future
As of today, February 21, 2025, people in the UK will not be able to use Apple iCloud’s advanced end-to-end encryption protection.
Apple had to kill its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) function in the UK after being hit by an encryption back door order under the Law on Investigation Powers in 2016. The request seeks to allow law enforcement to assess users’ data – whether encrypted.
In a statement, Apple explained that it can no longer offer the ADP feature to new users in the UK, and the British who are currently using the setting will eventually have to disable it. “As we have said many times before, we have never built a back door or master key for any of our products or services and we will never.”
“Severely disappointed”
Despite not being a standard feature, Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) once enables Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) an additional layer of protection of all iCloud-stored data using end-to-end encryption technology. This means that not even Apple can access these files.
“We are seriously disappointed that the protection provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK in the UK urgently than ever before,” Apple said.
The latest events such as the Salt Typhoon attack on all major US telecommunications have shown time and time again how encryption is crucial to privacy and security for everyone’s data. Even FBI and CISA experts have called on citizens to switch to encrypted services in the wake of this unprecedented cyberattack.
This is why a group of over 100 civil society organizations, tech companies and cyber security experts have called on the British government to cancel its order to Apple. Without success.
Over 100 Internet leaders, academics, organizations and businesses have expressed their alarm with the British government’s attempt to create back doors on encrypted backups. They require it to stop. Read the full open letter here ⬇ https://t.co/khbxrh114a13 February 2025
Apple now ensures that drawing its advanced data protection function from the United Kingdom will not affect iCloud data categories that are final encrypted by default. These include users’ health data, passwords, iCloud messages and Apple card transactions. You can see all the others on Apple’s support page.
Likewise, the communications services offered by the provider (iMessage and Facetime) also remain end-to-end encrypted everywhere, the UK included.
If you are currently using ADP protection, you will soon receive additional guidance from Apple on what to do next, as the provider cannot automatically disable the possibility of users. A timeframe will be delivered to disable the possibility of continuing to use your iCloud account.
However, what is important to keep in mind is that from now on by British users cannot benefit from E2E protection of these data categories: iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks, Siri -Rights, Voice memos, wallet cards and freeform.
All in all, the company said, “Apple remains obliged to offer our users the highest level of security for their personal data and are hopeful that we will be able to do so in the future in the UK.”
