US Lawmakers Urge Action Against UK's Apple Encryption Backdoor Request

U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Andy Biggs, are voicing strong opposition to the UK's recent request for Apple to create a backdoor into iCloud encryption, which they argue would jeopardize the privacy and security of American citizens. The UK's directive, issued under the Investigatory Powers Act, could potentially allow authorities access to encrypted data from Apple users worldwide, undermining essential end-to-end encryption. In a bipartisan letter to National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, the lawmakers urged her to reevaluate U.S.-U.K. cybersecurity arrangements if the UK does not rescind its order. They emphasized that any backdoor created for the UK could inadvertently compromise the security of American devices and sensitive government data. The lawmakers also referenced the dangers highlighted by recent cyberattacks, underscoring the necessity of strong encryption to protect against foreign adversaries. They advocate for a legislative modification to the CLOUD Act to impose stricter requirements on foreign requests for data, thus reinforcing the security of American communications.