UK Drops Demand for Backdoor Access to Encrypted Apple User Data

The United Kingdom has withdrawn its demand that Apple provide a 'back door' to access encrypted data of Apple users worldwide, following a legal dispute and pressure from U.S. officials including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The UK Home Office's Technical Capability Notice, which sought access to encrypted iCloud data protected by Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP), was met with Apple's legal challenge and the withdrawal of ADP for UK users. Gabbard emphasized that the agreement protects the civil liberties and constitutional rights of American citizens, preventing government access to protected encrypted data. Despite the UK government's insistence that the notice did not create a covert back door but required compliance with legal warrants, privacy advocates and U.S. officials expressed concerns about the implications for security and privacy. Apple maintains it has never built a back door or master key for any products or services and reaffirmed its commitment to encryption and user privacy. The UK government's decision was welcomed by privacy advocates but remains controversial among law enforcement and security officials who argue encryption can hinder investigations.