Apple Challenges UK Over iCloud Account Access

Tech
By 24matins.uk,  published 6 March 2025 at 9h58, updated on 6 March 2025 at 9h58.
Tech

Apple is now at odds with the British government, which is demanding indirect access to iCloud accounts, thereby jeopardizing user data privacy.

Apple Challenges the UK Government

A major legal challenge has been initiated by Apple against the UK government regarding a request for access to encrypted iCloud accounts. According to the Financial Times, Apple has filed a lawsuit aiming to overturn this directive.

Apple has turned to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), an independent judicial body, following a leak that exposed the UK government’s order demanding Apple to create a “backdoor” for encrypted iCloud backups, enabling law enforcement access to user data.

However, Apple has refused to comply, instead announcing plans to shut off national access to the highly encrypted version of iCloud storage, known as Advanced Data Protection.

The Investigatory Powers Act of 2016 allows British authorities to make such demands. Yet, this appears to be the first time the act faces a legal challenge. The IPT has agreed to review Apple’s case to determine the legality of the UK’s demands.

It remains uncertain whether the hearing will be public as the UK government might argue the need for confidentiality on national security grounds.

Apple’s Stance

Apple has not commented on its lawsuit against the UK government, referring only to a statement made last month, which partially reads, “We have never created a backdoor or master key for any of our products or services and never will.”

Dan Jarvis, UK Minister for Security, defended the case-by-case access to encrypted accounts, stating that the Investigatory Powers Act includes robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure data is only obtained exceptionally and when necessary and proportional.