TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 1254.consprcy@1:2320/105 2ce4e89d   
   PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   BBSID: CAPCITY2   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   FORMAT: flowed   
   The UK could make a U-turn on Apple's encryption backdoor demand   
      
   Date:   
   Mon, 21 Jul 2025 16:52:50 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   US officials have criticized the order that led Apple to remove its iCloud   
   end-to-end encryption feature in the UK in February. Now, the UK is    
   reportedly looking for a way to back down.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   The UK could soon back down from its demand against Apple to create an   
   encryption backdoor into its iCloud encryption.    
      
   As two senior British officials informed on the matter told the Financial   
   Times , Starmers government is seeking a way out to avoid a clash with    
   Trump's administration. US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have   
   been putting strong pressure against the order, warning against "systemic   
   vulnerabilities" that such a backdoor could create.    
      
   Apple killed its iCloud's end-to-end encryption feature in the UK in February   
   after being hit by a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016   
   Investigatory Powers Act. This would allow law enforcement to assess users'   
   data, no matter if it is encrypted. In April, the Big Tech company challenged   
   this request in Court .   
      
   Despite not being a default feature, once enabled, Apple's Advanced Data   
   Protection (ADP) provides an extra layer of protection on all iCloud-stored   
   data by using end-to-end encryption technology. This means not even Apple can   
   access these files.    
      
   UK authorities, however, see this extra layer of security as an impediment to   
   their criminal investigations and have pushed for a legal way to make    
   people's data accessible when needed.    
      
   Yet, according to the British officials, such a request is a "big red line in   
   the US" that could jeopardize the commercial relationships between the two   
   governments.    
      
   "They dont want us messing with their tech companies," they said, adding that   
   the US put the Home Office with "its back against the wall."    
      
   "Its a problem of the Home Offices own making, and theyre working on a way   
   around it now," they added.   
      
   US officials aren't alone in raising concerns over the UK's encryption   
   backdoor request. Over 100 internet leaders, academics, organizations, and   
   companies raised the alarm a few days after authorities issued the encryption   
   backdoor order.    
      
    Encryption is responsible for preventing unauthorized access to users' data.   
   Specifically, the best VPN and secure messaging apps use end-to-end    
   encryption to ensure online communications remain private between the sender   
   and the receiver.    
      
   A worrying and steady rise in cyberattacks, however, is showing how crucial   
   encryption is for the privacy and safety of everyone's data. In the aftermath   
   of the Salt Typhoon attack, for example, even FBI and CISA experts have been   
   calling citizens to switch to encrypted services .    
      
   As mentioned earlier, while Apple decided to remove Advanced Data Protection   
   for not building a backdoor into iCloud, the Big Tech giant and the Home   
   Office are still fighting the matter in Court at the time of writing.   
   Crucially, though, last month WhatsApp publicly supported Apple in its legal   
   battle that "could set a dangerous precedent," the encrypted messaging app's   
   boss told the BBC .    
      
   What's certain, though, is that the UK isn't the only country looking to   
   undermine encryption in the name of public safety.    
      
   In the latest of these efforts, the EU Commission has unveiled its plan to   
   enable law enforcement bodies to decrypt citizens' private data by 2030 .   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/the-uk-could-make-a-u-turn-   
   on-apples-encryption-backdoor-demand   
      
   $$   
   --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux   
    * Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)   
   SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 111 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 664   
   SEEN-BY: 229/700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45   
   SEEN-BY: 460/58 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35   
   PATH: 2320/105 229/426