UK orders Apple to let it access everyone’s encrypted data

Apple might suspend some UK services

It is thought that Apple could withdraw some of its services from the UK market as a result, as it warned it might when the law was first articulated in 2023.  At that time, it called the measure a “serious, direct threat” to security and privacy. It also warned that the global nature of the regulation meant the company could not obey, even if it wanted to, because doing so would force the firm to break other rules, such as those surrounding data privacy.

“End-to-end encryption is a critical capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats. It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches,” the company said.

Even if Apple does withdraw some of its services from the UK, that may not be enough. That’s because the law demands global access, which means UK security agencies can, with few safeguards, demand access to data from anyone. The Post mentioned Advanced Data Protection on iCloud as one service Apple might stop offering to the market, but the regulation seems to imply that if you are a US citizen, the UK (for some insane reason) can still demand access to your encrypted iCloud data.