British Surveillance Laws: Apple Might Withdraw Services

Uploaded on 2023-07-31 in BUSINESS-Services-Law, FREE TO VIEW, GOVERNMENT-National

The UK government is planning to increase the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), which is a bill that dictates how security agencies can monitor messages and get private data for investigations.

According to the changes, a “skilled person” must write a report for communications regulator Ofcom before it uses the new powers to compel a firm to scan messages, which was possible in previous versions of the bill.

But Apple, as well as other tech giants like Meta and Signal are upset, and they’re not going down without a fight and Apple has launched an attack on government proposals that would force tech firms to clear new privacy features with the Home Office.

And so Apple has threatened to fully remove FaceTime and iMessage services in the country, all because it doesn’t want to weaken the security of its products.

The extended powers could dramatically disrupt the global market for security technologies, Apple also warns, “putting users in the UK and around the world at greater risk.”

The changes to IPA would require tech companies to clear new security features for their products with the Home Office before releasing them to customers.

This new bill would also let the government force companies to disable the security features of their products without telling the public.

Apple claims that encrypted content and online privacy in general would be endangered, and expresses opposition to the requirement for non-UK-based companies to comply with the changes that would affect their product globally.

Apple stated in an announcement that the proposals would “make the Home Office the de facto global arbiter of what level of data security and encryption are permissible,” and added that it would not make changes to security features specifically for one country that would weaken a product for all users.

Finally, Apple stated it had never built a backdoor in its products for governments to use, so it would rather entirely withdraw security features from the British market.

The UK proposals are not the same as the regulations across its allied nations, including the US and European Union (EU) and Apple says the UK law would, “impinge on the right of other governments to determine for themselves the balance of data security and government access” in their own countries.

Apple has said planned changes to British surveillance laws could affect iPhone users’ privacy by forcing it to withdraw security features, which could ultimately lead to the closure of services such as FaceTime and iMessage in the UK.

iHIS:     Sky:     Computer World:     Android Police:     The Guardian:     BBC

 

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible

« Trains Are A Cyber Security Risk
Another British University Attacked »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Go Cyber

Training that transforms behaviours

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Promon

Promon

Promon is an application security vendor providing Self-Protection abilities to Mobile apps and Desktop applications.

Miller Group

Miller Group

Miller Group is an IT managed service provider. We proactively monitor and manage your entire business computer network. Services include backup & recovery and cyber security.

Hodgson Russ

Hodgson Russ

Hodgson Russ is a US business law firm. Practice areas include Privacy, Data Breach & Cybersecurity.

Ovarro

Ovarro

Ovarro is the new name for Servelec Technologies and Primayer. Ovarro's technology is used throughout the world to monitor, control and manage critical and national infrastructure.

Secucloud

Secucloud

Secucloud GmbH is a provider of high-availability cyber-security solutions, offering a cloud-based security-as-a-service platform, particularly for providers.

Baffin Bay Networks

Baffin Bay Networks

Baffin Bay Networks operates globally distributed Threat Protection Centers™, offering DDoS protection, Web Application Protection and Threat Inspection.

Nucleon

Nucleon

Nucleon enables cybersecurity tools, organizations and software developers to become proactive by blocking threats before they become breaches.

Elemendar

Elemendar

Elemendar Artificial Intelligence reads cyber threat reports written by humans and translates them into industry-standard, machine-readable and machine-actionable data.

AnChain.AI

AnChain.AI

AnChain.AI's analytics platform proactively protects crypto assets by providing proprietary artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and threat intelligence on blockchain transactions.

CYOSS

CYOSS

CYOSS, an ESG Group company, is a specialist in Cyber Security and Data Analytics. We focus on the opportunities of a networked world and make security risks manageable.

NWN Corp

NWN Corp

NWN Corporation is a leading Cloud Communications Service Provider (CCSP) focused on transforming the customer and workspace experience for commercial, enterprise and public sector organizations.

Surefire Cyber

Surefire Cyber

Surefire Cyber delivers swift, strong response to cyber incidents such as ransomware, email compromise, malware, data theft, and other threats with end-to-end response capabilities.

6WIND

6WIND

6WIND deliver virtualized, cloud-native, distributed high performance & secure networking software solutions to support new applications such as 5G, IoT, SD-WAN.

Socura

Socura

Socura helps make the digital world a safer place; changing the way organisations think about cyber security through a dynamic, innovative, and human approach.

Verinext

Verinext

Verinext delivers transformative business technology, from intelligently automating time-consuming tasks and protecting data assets to securing infrastructure and improving customer experiences.

Beaming

Beaming

Beaming is an established Internet Service Provider for businesses across the UK. We deliver reliable voice, data and managed services, including cybersecurity.