Apple disables iCloud encryption for UK users after government order

Apple has announced that it will discontinue its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service in the UK due to a request from the British government for access to encrypted iCloud data. This move comes after reports of a secret legal order compelling Apple to create a backdoor for accessing user data, which Apple has publicly opposed. As a result, UK users will lose the end-to-end encryption that ADP provided, impacting services like iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, and Photos, although some features like iCloud Keychain and iMessage will retain encryption. Apple expressed disappointment over this decision, emphasizing the importance of user privacy and security amid rising data breaches. While the UK government has not confirmed the existence of such legal demands, it has the authority to compel compliance through Technical Capability Notices. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between user privacy and government surveillance demands in the digital age.