Apple withdraws the encryption feature from the UK due to government espionage requirements

Apple has stopped providing an iCloud storage from end to end, protecting advanced data (ADP), for new users in the United Kingdom, and will require current users to disrupt the feature in the future. The move comes after the reports earlier this month that the UK security services asked Apple to grant them access to the encrypted backup of users all over the world.

“Apple is no longer able to provide advanced data protection in the UK for new users, and current UK’s current users will eventually need to disrupt this safety feature,” Apple spokesman Julian Trusdorf says in a statement. freedom. “We are very disappointed because the protection provided by ADP will not be available to our UK customers due to the continued climbing of data and other threats to the customer’s privacy.”

ADP works by protecting iCloud data with encryption from end to tip, which means that it can only be decoded by the person who has an iCloud account on his own devices. Apple originally ADP was launched in late 2022Allow iCloud data such as backup, messages and images that protect them. The ADP removal means that the files of British users will be available to Apple, and can be shared with the law application, although this will continue to require.

Apple has already stopped providing advanced data protection for new users in the United Kingdom, and advised them that it “is no longer able to provide” service. Apple will not be able to automatically disable ADP on the existing iCloud accounts, due to the way the comprehensive encryption feature works. Trusdorf tells freedom UK users will be given a time to disable ADP to continue using their ICLOUD account at some point in the future, although the company has not said when the deadline will be.

“Apple is still committed to providing the highest level of safety for their personal data, and we hope we will be able to do this in the future in the United Kingdom,” says Trusdorf. “As we said several times before, we have never built a rear key or a mastery key for any of our products or services and we will never be able to do so.”

Earlier this month Washington Post She mentioned that the UK Ministry of Interior, led by Interior Minister Evit Cooper, had it Rear access to encrypted files It was raised not only by the British, but by users all over the world. According to what was reported, the company was submitted by a document called the technical capacity notification under the UK Investigation Forces Law for 2016, also known as the Snoopers Charter. Apple has the right to appeal any request submitted under the law, but not to delay the implementation of the order.

It has been reported that Apple is likely to disable its encryption in the United Kingdom rather than granting security services to the rear paper, but this may not weaken the labor government. Apple has not issued any statement at that time, and so far it has not explained the reason for the disruption of ADP, but even revealed that the government had submitted a request under the Power Law the investigation would be a criminal crime.

UK security services have repeatedly pushed against comprehensive encrypted services in the past, making the argument that encryption is used by terrorists and children users to hide from the law. A government spokesman told Guardian In 2022, when Apple first submitted an encoding from end to end.

Apple is not the only technological company that offers encrypted backup copies from end to end. Google has offered encrypted backup copies for Android users since 2018, and Meta also provides the WHATSAPP backup option. Both are still available in the United Kingdom.