Apple escapes UK encryption backdoor mandate

Apple has secured a significant victory in its privacy battle with the UK government after American intelligence officials announced that Britain has agreed to drop demands for a backdoor into the tech giant’s encrypted user data.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed on Monday that the UK had withdrawn its requirement for Apple to provide access to protected encrypted data of American citizens, ending a months-long dispute that had raised concerns about global privacy standards.

The controversy began earlier this year when the UK government secretly issued a Technical Capability Notice under the Investigatory Powers Act, compelling Apple to create access to its Advanced Data Protection feature for iCloud users worldwide. The directive would have allowed British authorities to access encrypted cloud backups, voice memos, and other secured content.

In response to the mandate, Apple removed its Advanced Data Protection feature from UK users in February rather than compromise the encryption that protects user data globally. The company also initiated legal proceedings at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, challenging the government’s authority to make such demands.

Gabbard stated on social media that she had worked closely with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over recent months to ensure “Americans’ private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected.” The resolution follows significant diplomatic pressure from Washington, with US lawmakers previously warning that the UK’s order could be exploited by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes.

The dispute had also raised questions about whether the UK had violated the CLOUD Act, a bilateral agreement that prohibits either country from demanding access to the other’s citizens’ data.

Apple has consistently maintained it would never create backdoors into its encrypted products, citing security risks and the potential for misuse by malicious actors.

Neither the UK government nor Apple provided immediate responses to requests for comment on the development. It remains unclear whether Apple will reinstate its Advanced Data Protection feature for UK users following the policy reversal.

The resolution marks a significant moment in the ongoing global debate over encryption, with privacy advocates warning that government backdoors could set dangerous precedents for other nations seeking similar access to encrypted communications.