Apple won’t be forced to build a “back door” for UK authorities to access US users’ encrypted data, ending a tense privacy clash between Washington and London.
US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard said on Monday the UK agreed to step back after months of talks, calling the move key to protecting Americans’ constitutional rights and civil liberties.
The UK government wouldn’t comment on specifics but stressed it continues to work closely with the US on joint intelligence and security, while balancing privacy protections.
The reversal follows Apple’s February decision to stop offering its highest-level security feature, Advanced Data Protection, in the UK after reports surfaced that officials had quietly ordered the company to provide broad access to cloud data.
Under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, authorities can compel companies to disable encryption through so-called “technical capability notices.” Such orders are kept secret unless the government grants permission to disclose them.
It’s still unclear whether Apple will reintroduce Advanced Data Protection in the UK.
Privacy advocates, however, welcomed the UK’s retreat. John Pane of Electronic Frontiers Australia said forcing Apple to create a back door would have been a “significant risk,” potentially exploitable by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes.
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