Apple launches legal challenge over UK ‘back door’ order

With Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, users have the choice to further protect important iCloud data even in the case of a data breach.
Apple is intensifying its battle with the British government, which has demanded a “back door” into its most secure iCloud storage system – Advanced Data Protection – by lodging a legal challenge aimed at reversing the directive.
Tim Bradshaw and Lucy Fisher for Financial Times:
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The iPhone maker has made its appeal to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body that examines complaints against the UK security services, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Silicon Valley company’s legal challenge is believed to be the first time that provisions in the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act allowing UK authorities to break encryption have been tested before the court. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal will consider whether the UK’s notice to Apple was lawful and, if not, could order it to be quashed.
The case could be heard as soon as this month, although it is unclear whether there will be any public disclosure of the hearing. The government is likely to argue the case should be restricted on national security grounds…
The iPhone maker launched its legal complaint appealing against the order last month at about the same time as it withdrew its most secure online back-up service from the UK, rather than comply with the TCN.
Despite Apple pulling the service, the British government still believes the Big Tech company has failed to comply with its order, which can also be used to access the data of individuals outside the UK.
The UK’s move has brought condemnation from US President Donald Trump and his newly appointed intelligence chief, who are pressuring the British government to back down.
Trump compared the UK’s demand to Chinese surveillance, while Tulsi Gabbard, US director of national intelligence, said tapping Americans’ data would be an “egregious violation” of privacy that risked breaching the two countries’ data agreement.

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MacDailyNews Take: We’ve been fairly clear on the subject:
It’s not enough that every Brit alive has a government camera shoved up their ass 24/7/365? The UK has already slipped far down the slope that they ought to rename the place Airstrip One. – MacDailyNews, November 3, 2015
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin
The current batshit insane “leadership” of Airstrip One is having yet another crisis of confidence. – MacDailyNews, February 7, 2025
Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. – Potter Stewart
MacDailyNews Note: Apple’s Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is an optional setting that offers Apple’s highest level of cloud data security. If you choose to enable Advanced Data Protection, the majority of your iCloud data — including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more — is protected using end-to-end encryption. No one else can access your end-to-end encrypted data, not even Apple, and this data remains secure even in the case of a data breach in the cloud.
How to turn on Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
On Mac

Choose Apple menu  > System Settings.
Click your name, then click iCloud.
Click Advanced Data Protection, then click Turn On.
Follow the onscreen instructions to review your recovery methods and enable Advanced Data Protection.

On iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app.
Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
Scroll down, tap Advanced Data Protection, then tap Turn on Advanced Data Protection.
Follow the onscreen instructions to review your recovery methods and enable Advanced Data Protection.

More info about Apple’s Advanced Data Protection for iCloud here.

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