Apple Takes Legal Action Over Data Privacy

Uploaded on 2025-03-05 in FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-IT & Telecoms

Apple is taking legal action over the British government's efforts to force the company to weaken iCloud encryption. As a first step, Apple has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent court with the power to investigate claims against the Security Service.

Now, Apple has filed a court appeal to overturn this order, issued by the UK government, that demanded sweeping access to users’ encrypted cloud data and prompted criticism from several quarters.

This is an unprecedented row between one of the world's biggest technology firms and the British government over data privacy.

Recently, Apple was issued with a secret order by the Home Office to share encrypted data belonging to Apple users around the world with UK law enforcement in the event of a potential national security threat. Data protected by Apple's standard level of encryption is still accessible by the company if a warrant is issued, but the firm cannot view or share data encrypted using its toughest privacy cloud tool called Advanced Data Protection (ADP).

ADP is an opt-in feature and it is not known how many people use it

In late February Apple chose to remove ADP from the UK market rather than comply with the notice, that would mean creating a hidden way in for the UK Government to have access. Apple said at the time that it would never compromise its security features and it was disappointed at having to take the action in the UK.

The UK's order also angered the US administration with President Donald Trump describing it to The Spectator as "something that you hear about with China".

The newly appointed Director of US National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has said she had not been informed about the UK government's demand. In a letter she said that it was an "egregious violation" of US citizens' rights to privacy and added that she intended to find out whether it breached the terms of a legal data agreement between the US and the UK.

The UK Home Office has so far has refused to confirm or deny that the notice issued in January exists, as legally this order cannot be made public. The Financial Times newspaper, which first revealed Apple's legal action, has reported that the tribunal case could be heard in the next few weeks, but may not be made public.

Apple Insider

Image: Kartikey Das

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