UK Backing Down on Apple Encryption Backdoor
Anna Gross, Tim Bradshaw, and Lauren Fedor (Hacker News, MacRumors):
The officials both said the Home Office, which ordered the tech giant in January to grant access to its most secure cloud storage system, would probably have to retreat in the face of pressure from senior leaders in Washington, including Vice President JD Vance.
[…]
In its order in January, the Home Office told Apple to build in a “back door” to allow law enforcement or security services to tap into the cloud storage system that stores user data that even the iPhone maker itself is currently unable to access.
It did so by issuing a “technical capability notice” under the UK Investigatory Powers Act, legislation that critics dub a “snooper’s charter” but that the government maintains is needed by law enforcement to investigate terrorism and child sexual abuse.
[…]
Last month, Meta-owned WhatsApp said it would join Apple’s legal challenge, in a rare collaboration between the Silicon Valley rivals.
Previously:
- Apple Pulls iCloud Advanced Data Protection From UK
- UK Orders Apple to Break iCloud Advanced Data Protection
- UK Proposal to Weaken Messaging Security
- Apple Opposes Updated UK Investigatory Powers Act
