UK Orders Apple To Provide Access To Encrypted Cloud Data

The UK government has ordered Apple to provide broad access to encrypted user data stored in its cloud, according to a report by The Washington Post.

A “technical capability notice” issued under the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016 requires Apple to grant blanket access rather than assist with specific accounts. Apple has previously opposed weakening encryption, stating it would not create backdoors. The company has not responded to the order. The UK’s Online Safety Act of 2023 has also faced criticism from tech companies for its impact on encryption. In 2016, Apple resisted a U.S. demand to unlock an encrypted iPhone linked to a criminal case. Meta and Signal have similarly opposed government access to encrypted data.