UK Drops Apple Encryption Backdoor Plan After US Pressure
▼ Summary
– Sir Keir Starmer’s government is facing pressure from the Trump administration over the UK’s demand for Apple to provide access to secure customer data.
– The Home Office is likely to retreat due to strong opposition from US leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, who views the issue as a major concern.
– The UK’s push to break Apple’s end-to-end encryption could harm technology agreements with the US, as it is seen as a “big red line” for American officials.
– The Home Office’s handling of the encryption issue has been criticized as poorly managed, leaving it in a difficult position of its own making.
– The UK used a “technical capability notice” to compel Apple to create a backdoor for law enforcement, citing counterterrorism and child abuse investigations as justification.
The UK government appears poised to abandon its controversial push for Apple to weaken encryption protections following intense pressure from US officials. Senior British sources indicate that Home Office demands for special access to secure iPhone data storage systems are being reconsidered amid diplomatic tensions with Washington.
Two high-ranking UK officials confirmed that the Home Office will likely withdraw its January order requiring Apple to create law enforcement access points to encrypted cloud data. The move comes after direct intervention from senior US figures, including Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly expressed strong objections to the British proposal.
One technology department insider described the situation bluntly: “The vice president sees this as unacceptable interference, and the Home Office has no choice but to retreat.” The official noted that the encryption dispute has become a major obstacle in ongoing US-UK technology collaborations, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and data-sharing agreements.
Another government source criticized the Home Office’s approach, stating that officials mishandled the situation from the start. “They’ve painted themselves into a corner,” the individual said. “Now they’re scrambling to find an exit strategy.”
The original demand stemmed from a “technical capability notice” issued under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, which grants authorities sweeping surveillance powers. While British officials argue such measures are essential for combating terrorism and online exploitation, critics condemn them as invasive overreach.
Apple’s current encryption standards prevent even the company itself from accessing certain user data stored in iCloud. The Home Office sought to compel the tech firm to alter this system, but US resistance appears to have derailed those plans, highlighting the delicate balance between national security concerns and global tech industry relationships.
The standoff underscores broader tensions between governments seeking expanded digital surveillance powers and technology companies committed to protecting user privacy. With Washington firmly opposed to compromising encryption standards, the UK now faces difficult choices in reconciling its security priorities with international partnerships.
(Source: Ars Technica)
