UK rescinds demand for Apple encryption bypass, leaving digital rights advocates unenthusiastic
The UK government has withdrawn its demand for Apple to create a backdoor in iCloud encryption following intense diplomatic pressure from the United States [1][2][4][5]. This controversial request had been issued secretly under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) in January 2025, which would have required Apple to weaken its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) encryption to allow law enforcement access to iCloud data, including that of non-UK citizens [1][5].
Apple resisted by disabling ADP for UK users and mounted a legal challenge, pending court proceedings scheduled for 2026 [3][4]. Despite dropping the specific order against Apple, the legal power under the Investigatory Powers Act to compel companies to undermine encryption remains intact in UK law [2]. Digital rights experts and privacy groups continue to call for amendments to the IPA to explicitly prevent such weakening of encryption [2][3][4].
The UK government has not formally confirmed operational details about the withdrawal or further plans, though intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US remain ongoing under existing agreements like the Data Access Agreement [4]. The decision to drop the request for an encryption backdoor has been welcomed, but digital rights experts aren't quite ready to call it a victory due to the power to undermine encryption remaining in the UK law.
Once enabled, Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) provides an extra layer of protection across all iCloud-stored data using end-to-end encryption technology. However, the Online Safety Act, which isn't just about age verification, is also at risk regarding end-to-end encryption. An amendment to these powers is what experts suggest should come next.
References:
- The Guardian. (2025, August 18). UK drops Apple encryption demand after US intervention. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/18/uk-drops-apple-encryption-demand-after-us-intervention
- Wired. (2025, August 19). UK Drops Apple Encryption Demand, but the Fight Isn't Over. Retrieved from https://www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-drops-apple-encryption-demand-us-intervention
- Reuters. (2025, April 1). Apple challenges UK order to break encryption in court. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-challenges-uk-order-break-encryption-court-2025-04-01/
- The Register. (2025, August 18). UK drops Apple encryption demand after US intervention. Retrieved from https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/18/uk_drops_apple_encryption_demand/
- BBC News. (2025, January 15). Apple to disable iCloud encryption in UK over government demands. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58234997
