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Following a dispute with the British government, Apple has withdrawn its most advanced end-to-end encryption feature from its cloud storage services for UK users.
By enabling the Advanced Data Protection (ADP) tool, which is an optional feature, only the account holder will have access to any data stored online, including images and documents. Apple does not have permission to access the information.
Nevertheless, earlier this month, the UK government allegedly asked for permission to view the data.
As a result, Apple has disabled the app in the UK.
Instead of offering it to people who aren’t currently using it, the corporation is turning it off and implementing a plan to get current customers to stop using it.
Cybersecurity advocates say encryption impedes investigations into criminal activity, but tech companies insist it is necessary for consumer privacy.
Apple might potentially access user data, like iMessage, that is normally encrypted and share it with authorities if they demand it due to the removal of end-to-end encryption from iCloud backup.
Apple, on the other hand, will never be able to decipher data sent by an encrypted user.
What Exactly Has Apple Said?
“We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,” Apple stated in a press release.
“Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever before.
“Apple remains committed to offering our users the highest level of security for their personal data and is hopeful that we will be able to do so in the future in the United Kingdom.”
Apple advised users to “eventually disable this security feature” if they had previously enabled the data protection tool.
“Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users.” This means that the function is now inaccessible to consumers who weren’t using it before.
Has the UK Government made Any Statements?
Government officials have stated that they would not confirm or deny whether they sought a Technical Capability Notice (TCN), the document that would grant them access to the encrypted data.
According to a spokesperson from the Home Office, “We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices,”
An official from the Home Office has stated that the issuance of a TCN would not grant the government free access to individuals’ data.
Separate authorizations or warrants would still be necessary.
How is the Tech Industry Responding?
According to Graeme Stewart of cybersecurity firm Check Point, Apple “is effectively smashing open Pandora’s box and hoping the chaos stays neatly inside” after their decision, which has stunned many in the computer world.
“At its heart, encryption isn’t just for criminals; it’s a shield for millions of law-abiding citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure,” according to him.
“Now we are prying open that door to our digital Fort Knox, there’s no telling what else might slip through.”
According to Robert Peake, a technology partner at Keystone Law, Apple is “calling the government’s bluff” by not providing a backdoor into its secured data.
“The government will face increasing pressure to back down on this, as it seriously undermines its recent attempts to portray the UK as a pro-innovation place to operate,” according to him.
