Apple takes an unprecedented step to remove the highest data security tool from customers in the United Kingdom, after the government has called for user data.
Protection of advanced data (ADP) means that only account holders can display elements such as pictures or documents that they have stored online through a process known as a comprehensive encryption.
But earlier this month I asked the UK government For the right to see data, which is not even accessible to Apple currently accessed.
Apple did not comment at that time, but she continuously opposed the creation of the “back door” in her encryption service, on the pretext that if he did so, this would be a matter of time only before bad actors also find a way.
Now the technology giant decided that ADP will not be possible in the UK.
This means in the end that all UK customer data is stored on iCloud – the cloud storage service from Apple – it will be Entirely.
Apple encoding data can be accessed by Apple and can be involved with the application of the law, if they have an order.
“We do not comment on operational issues, including, for example, confirmation or rejecting any such notifications,” the BBC told the BBC.
In a statement, Apple said it was “very disappointed” because the security feature would not be available to British customers.
“As we said several times before, we never built the back door or key to any of our products, and we will never do it.”
The ADP service is a subscription, which means that people should register for the protection you provide.
From 1500GMT on Friday, any Apple user in the UK tried to run with a mistake.
The arrival of the current users will be disabled at a later time.
The number of people who subscribed to ADP has not been known since it became available to British Apple customers in December 2022.
Professor Alain Woodward, a cybersecurity expert at a Syrian University, said that “a very disappointing development” that has reached a “self -harm” by the government.
He told BBC: “All the UK government has achieved it is to weaken the security and privacy online for users in the United Kingdom,” adding that it was “naive” for the United Kingdom “believed that they can inform the American technology company what to do worldwide. .
Online privacy expert Caro Robson said she believes he was “unprecedented” for the company “simply to withdraw a product instead of cooperating with a government.”
“It will be a very disturbing precedent if other communications operators feel that they are simply they can withdraw products and not hold them accountable by governments,” she told the BBC.
“I have seen this Apple as a principle point – if they would recognize this to the United Kingdom and then every other government about this world wants this “.
The application was submitted by the Ministry of Interior under the Law of Investigation (IPA), which forces companies to provide information for law enforcement agencies.
Apple will not comment on the notice and the Ministry of Interior refused to confirm its presence or rejection, but the BBC and the Washington Post spoke with a number of familiar sources about the matter.
A violent reaction from the activists of privacy, who called it an “unprecedented attack”, sparked the special data of individuals.
Last week, Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, responded to a post on X expressing his concerns about the government’s request.
He wrote: “If the UK is forcing the global back door on Apple’s security, then this will make everyone in every country less safe.
two Senior American politicians said It has been a serious threat to American national security that the US government should re -evaluate intelligence -sharing agreements with the United Kingdom unless they are withdrawn.
It is not clear that Apple procedures will fully address these concerns, as IPA ranks all over the world will apply and ADP will continue to work in other countries.
One of these American politicians – Senator Ron Widen -BBC News told Apple that Apple is withdrawing coded backup copies to one side of the United Kingdom “creates a dangerous precedent that the authoritarian countries certainly follow.”
Senator Weiden believes that the move “will not be sufficient” for the United Kingdom to drop its demands, which “would seriously threaten” the privacy of American users.
In her statement, Apple said it regretted the action she had taken.
“The strengthening of cloud storage safety with encryption from run to end is more urgent than ever,” she said.
“Apple is still committed to providing the highest level of safety for their personal data, and hopes that we can do this in the future in the United Kingdom.”
Rani Govander, policy manager for child safety online at NSPCC, said she wants technology companies such as Apple to ensure that it is a balance between children’s safety and the safety of users with privacy.
“Since Apple is looking to change her encryption approach, we invite them to ensure that she also implements more child safety measures, so that children are properly protected on their services,” she told BBC News.
The Children’s Charitable Foundation in the United Kingdom said that coded to the end can hinder the efforts of children’s safety and protection, such as determining the participation of sexual assault materials (CSAM).
But Emily Taylor, co -founder of the Global Signal Exchange who provides an insight into the supply chain fraud, that the encryption was more about protecting the privacy of the consumer and that it is not the same as the dark network where CSAM is usually distributed.
She told Radio 4 today: “The problem with this long -term debate, and the zero debate about encryption and child protection is that technology companies can come out incredibly, but this is not the point.”
“The encryption is something that we use every day, whether it is communication with our bank, whether it is on the encrypted messaging applications from the end to the end, the encryption is a form of privacy in an unsafe world on the Internet.”
The row comes amid an increasing appearance in the United States against the regulations imposed on the technology sector from another place.
In a speech at the AI Action summit in Paris at the beginning of February, US Vice President JD Vance explained that the United States was increasingly concerned about it.
“The Trump administration is turbulent of reports that some foreign governments are considering tightening screws on international technology companies with international feet,” he said.