The UK government has issued a fresh order requiring Apple to create a backdoor into its cloud storage service—this time specifically targeting British users' data after international backlash forced it to withdraw a broader demand.
The new order, reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by the BBC, replaces a previous mandate that would have granted UK authorities access to Apple users' data worldwide. That original demand sparked fierce opposition from US officials, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard calling it "a clear and egregious violation of Americans' privacy and civil liberties" in August.
The order specifically targets Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP), a feature that uses end-to-end encryption to ensure only users—not even Apple—can access their iCloud data. Apple withdrew ADP from the UK market in February following the initial order, and the company has confirmed that existing UK users will eventually need to disable the security feature.
"We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services, and we never will," Apple stated, expressing "grave disappointment" at being unable to offer ADP to British users.
The UK government maintains it needs access to encrypted data when backed by appropriate warrants for national security purposes, though a Home Office spokesperson declined to confirm the order's existence, citing operational security.
Broader Privacy Implications
Privacy advocates warn this could set a dangerous precedent. "By using a secret order to undermine the security of Apple products, the UK Government is making security harder for us all," said Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director for Privacy International, adding that similar orders could be issued to other tech companies.
Apple has appealed the order at the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal, with a hearing scheduled for January 2026. The case was made public after a judge sided with civil liberties groups and news organisations arguing against secret proceedings.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between government surveillance powers and user privacy protections, with cybersecurity experts warning that backdoors—regardless of intended use—create vulnerabilities that could be exploited by criminals and hostile nations.