UK Home Office Pursues Apple for Backdoor Access

The U.K. Home Office has reportedly renewed its request to Apple, seeking backdoor access to its encrypted cloud services, a move reminiscent of its previous attempts earlier this year. Reports indicate that following a retraction of its earlier request in August, the Home Office has once again reached out to Apple, demanding access to the Advanced Data Protection service—a feature designed to ensure end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups.

Sources cited by the Financial Times claim that the Home Office issued a new technical capability notice to Apple in early September. This request leverages the authority granted under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which permits the government to instruct telecommunications companies to remove electronic protections on user data for evidence-gathering purposes.

This latest order follows an earlier attempt made by the Home Office in January of this year. In that instance, Apple contested the demand in court, receiving support from officials within the Trump administration. The technology giant subsequently deactivated the Advanced Data Protection feature for users in the U.K. a move many interpreted as a strategic response to governmental pressure.

A spokesperson for the Home Office chose not to confirm or deny the latest request. They emphasized the agency’s commitment to taking necessary actions to ensure the safety of U.K. citizens. This echoes concerns raised earlier this year by U.S. lawmakers regarding the implications of such measures, which could facilitate extensive surveillance of private communications—ranging from messages to files and images.

In a statement to the Financial Times, Apple expressed its profound disappointment in not being able to extend Advanced Data Protection to new users in the U.K. The company reiterated its long-standing position against creating backdoors or master keys for any of its services, a commitment to user privacy underscored by its public statements.

Privacy advocacy group Privacy International has urged caution, describing the request as a potential “significant threat” not only to U.K. users but globally. They warned that compromising end-to-end encryption for the U.K. could result in vulnerabilities that might be exploited by malicious actors worldwide.

Apple’s Advanced Data Protection service safeguards nine types of iCloud data, including backups, photos, and notes. This emphasis on end-to-end encryption enhances privacy and security, particularly in the event of a cloud data breach.

The unfolding scenario presents a critical juncture for the intersection of technology governance and user privacy, as stakeholders navigate the implications of state demands for access to encrypted communications.