Technology

UK demands create fresh tensions with Apple over encryption and cross-border data access

Thursday, 2 October 2025 4:05AM UTC

The UK government has escalated its efforts to access encrypted iCloud backups, demanding Apple create a back door amid mounting legal, diplomatic, and privacy concerns, sparking a global debate on encryption and security.

The UK government has taken a significant step in its ongoing effort to access encrypted iCloud backups of British users by ordering Apple to create a technical “back door” into its cloud storage service. This move, first revealed by the Financial Times, comes after a previous broader demand that sought global access, including data of American users, which met with fierce opposition from the US administration. In September, under the Investigatory Powers Act, the Home Office issued a technical capability notice (TCN) compelling Apple to provide this access, but limited the scope to UK users, aiming to address concerns raised during earlier negotiations.

The demand marks an escalation in a complex dispute over data privacy and law enforcement’s surveillance powers. Apple, steadfast in its commitment to user privacy, has consistently refused to weaken its encryption or create any master key or back door, arguing such actions expose users worldwide to increased risks from hackers and hostile actors. The tech giant withdrew its most secure cloud feature, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), from the UK market earlier this year, indicating the challenges posed by government demands. Apple expressed profound disappointment over the inability to offer these protections to UK customers, citing a rise in data breaches and threats to privacy.

While the UK Home Office has declined to confirm the exact nature of the notice, it reiterated its commitment to taking necessary actions domestically to safeguard citizens. Apple’s position remains clear: it has never built a back door or master key to any of its products or services and will not do so. However, the legal battle is set to continue, with Apple challenging the legality of these government demands in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), supported by privacy advocacy groups such as Liberty and Privacy International.

Privacy campaigners have voiced alarm at the broader implications of the UK’s order. Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director at Privacy International, warned that undermining end-to-end encryption in the UK could have global repercussions, creating vulnerabilities exploitable by hostile states, cybercriminals, and other malicious entities. The concern is that once encryption protections are compromised—even in a single jurisdiction—the breach can be exploited internationally, weakening overall digital security.

The dispute has also had significant diplomatic implications. The initial UK push for global access, which included American data, provoked backlash from Washington, with key figures in the former Trump administration strongly opposing the demand. This opposition was so intense that it raised concerns about damaging wider UK-US trade and security relations. According to reports, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer brought up the issue in talks during his state visit to Washington, and though US officials initially pressured the UK to retract or scale back its demands, recent developments indicate they have eased off on this stance.

Behind the scenes, British and American officials have engaged in private discussions aimed at resolving these tensions. One sticking point has been whether the UK’s demands violate the US CLOUD Act, which limits such cross-border data requests. The issue remains under legal scrutiny, with related secret hearings scheduled in London’s High Court. Meanwhile, Apple’s removal of ADP encryption in the UK has already altered how the company handles iCloud backups, allowing Apple to technically access backups that can then be legally handed over to authorities, a change significant for privacy advocates and law enforcement alike.

This ongoing saga highlights the difficult balance governments face between enabling effective law enforcement and counterterrorism investigations and preserving robust digital privacy protections for users. Tech companies have repeatedly opposed efforts to undermine encryption because of the inherent risks to user security and privacy, while governments argue that encrypted data can shield criminals and terrorists from detection. The evolving legal and diplomatic battle between the UK and US, set against Apple’s firm stance, underscores the complexities of data governance in an increasingly connected world.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.cityam.com/uk-orders-apple-to-give-access-to-encrypted-icloud-backups/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-makes-new-attempt-access-apple-cloud-data-ft-reports-2025-10-01/ - The UK government has renewed efforts to obtain access to Apple's encrypted iCloud data, focusing specifically on data belonging to UK users. This follows a previous broader mandate that included American data, which faced strong opposition from U.S. lawmakers and intelligence officials. Apple has consistently refused to create any 'back door' access into its devices or services, citing privacy and security concerns, and had appealed the initial order to the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). While the UK government maintains discretion on operational matters, it reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national security. Apple has not yet issued a response to the renewed order.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/07/uk-orders-apple-to-let-it-access-encrypted-accounts-washington-post.html - Britain's Home Office ordered Apple last month to create a technical 'backdoor' that would let officials view encrypted material uploaded to the cloud, the Washington Post reported Friday. Governments in the U.S., U.K. and EU have long expressed dissatisfaction with this setup, arguing it enables criminals, terrorists and sex offenders to conceal illicit activity. Tech firms — including Apple — have pushed back on attempts to undermine encryption, saying it would weaken user privacy.
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/21/apple-pulls-encrypted-icloud-security-feature-uk/ - Apple has withdrawn its Advanced Data Protection iCloud feature from the United Kingdom following government demands for backdoor access to encrypted user data. The move comes after UK officials secretly ordered Apple to provide unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud content worldwide. Customers who are already using Advanced Data Protection, or ADP, will need to manually disable it during an unspecified grace period to keep their iCloud accounts. Apple said it will issue additional guidance in the future to affected users and that it 'does not have the ability to automatically disable it on their behalf.'
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/07/uk-government-orders-access-icloud/ - The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post. The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before seen in any other democratic country. The spying order came by way of a 'technical capability notice,' a document sent to Apple by the Home Secretary, ordering it to provide access under the sweeping UK Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) of 2016.
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-us-hold-private-talks-resolve-apple-encryption-order-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-03-13/ - British officials have engaged in private discussions with U.S. officials to address concerns that the UK is pressuring Apple to build a backdoor into American encrypted data, following Apple's removal of its Advanced Data Protection encryption in the UK. This removal allows Apple to access iCloud backups, which could then be legally handed over to authorities. The matter has escalated as U.S. authorities investigate if the UK's demands violate the CLOUD Act, which prohibits demands for data from the opposing nation. A related secret hearing will take place at London's High Court. The situation reflects ongoing tensions between governments seeking data access for surveillance and crime-fighting, and tech companies prioritizing consumer privacy.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/21/apple-pulls-icloud-end-to-end-encryption-feature-for-uk-users-after-government-demanded-backdoor/ - Apple confirmed Friday that it 'can no longer' offer a security feature that allows users in the United Kingdom to encrypt their iCloud data. In a statement provided to TechCrunch, Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz said the company’s Advanced Data Protection feature will no longer be available to new users and current U.K. users 'will eventually need to disable this security feature.' 'We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the U.K. given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,' the company said in a statement.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being October 1, 2025. However, similar reports have appeared in the past, notably in February 2025, when Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection feature in the UK following government demands for backdoor access. ([macrumors.com](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/21/apple-pulls-encrypted-icloud-security-feature-uk/?utm_source=openai)) This earlier coverage may indicate that the current report is a recycled version of previous news. Additionally, the report cites the Financial Times, suggesting it may be based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. Nonetheless, the presence of earlier versions with differing figures and dates raises concerns about the originality of the content. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/01/uk-government-tries-again-to-access-encrypted-apple-customer-data-report/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The report includes direct quotes from Apple and Privacy International. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes reveals that they have appeared in earlier material, indicating potential reuse. For instance, Apple's statement about never building a back door or master key to any of its products or services has been previously reported. ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/02/21/apple-yanks-encrypted-storage-uk-instead-allowing-backdoor-access/?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, but the core message remains consistent. The lack of online matches for some quotes suggests they may be original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from City AM, a UK-based business-focused news outlet. While it is a reputable source, it is not as widely recognised as some other major news organisations. The report cites the Financial Times, a highly reputable organisation, which strengthens the credibility of the information. However, the reliance on a single source for the main claim introduces some uncertainty.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims made in the report are plausible and align with previous reports on the UK government's attempts to access encrypted iCloud data. The narrative includes specific details, such as the issuance of a technical capability notice under the Investigatory Powers Act, which are consistent with known events. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail. There are no significant inconsistencies or red flags in the report.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents plausible and timely information regarding the UK's order for Apple to provide access to encrypted iCloud backups. However, the presence of recycled content, potential reuse of quotes, and reliance on a single source for the main claim introduce some uncertainty. Further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy and originality of the report.

Data Privacy
Encryption
UK Government
Apple