US Says UK Has Dropped Backdoor Mandate For Apple
According to the US, the UK has dropped its controversial request for Apple to build a backdoor into its encrypted systems, which would have given the government potential access to the private data of users globally. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the news on X, calling it the result of “months of engagement” to protect constitutional rights and civil liberties. The demand had raised concern in Washington over whether the UK had violated international data agreements, particularly the CLOUD Act.
Apple had pushed back against the order, issued under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act, by pulling its Advanced Data Protection feature from the UK and preparing for a legal battle over the order. The company insists, “We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services, and we never will.” Privacy groups have welcomed the UK’s retreat but warned the underlying law still allows for similar actions in the future unless it is reformed. “The UK’s powers to attack encryption are still on the law books,” said Open Rights Group’s Jim Killock.
Civil liberties advocates say a forced backdoor would have endangered not just privacy but also security, opening the door to abuse by hackers and authoritarian regimes. “Were Apple to create a backdoor… it would create a significant risk,” said John Pane of Electronic Frontiers Australia. It remains unclear if Apple will reinstate the pulled security features for UK users, but campaigners say this moment should be a turning point for stronger digital rights protections worldwide.
