Apple has filed a legal challenge against a U.K. government order demanding a backdoor to its end-to-end encrypted iCloud backups, escalating a battle over digital privacy and government surveillance powers.
The tech giant lodged its case with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which oversees the activities of British intelligence agencies, the Financial Times reported.
The move not only signals Apple’s resistance to British authorities but also suggests the tech giant is unwilling to bow to similar pressures from the U.S. government.
The move marks a rare and significant escalation in the ongoing tug-of-war between tech companies and governments over data access. Apple, a staunch advocate for user privacy, is known for its hardline stance against building encryption backdoors, arguing that any such access could be exploited by bad actors.
Apple is not alone in its fight. Other tech giants, including Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Microsoft, have also resisted government demands for access to encrypted communications. The tech industry broadly supports strong encryption as essential to protecting user data against cyber threats.
The U.K. Order: A Backdoor to Privacy?
The U.K. government’s order, issued in January, invoked the country’s sweeping national security surveillance legislation—the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, commonly known as the Snooper’s Charter. The charter gives authorities broad powers to compel technology companies to assist in intercepting communications and accessing encrypted data. The order demanded that Apple create a backdoor to its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature, which offers end-to-end encryption on iCloud backups. This feature ensures that only the user, not even Apple, can access the stored data.
In response, Apple pulled the ADP feature from the U.K. market, effectively blocking British users from accessing the enhanced security offering. Simultaneously, the company filed a challenge with the IPT, the secretive court that oversees U.K. intelligence agencies, seeking to overturn the government’s demand.
The U.S. Pressure Mounts on Apple Too
Apple’s decision to challenge the U.K. government may also reflect its stance against similar pressures from the U.S. government. For years, U.S. authorities have lobbied Apple to provide backdoor access to its encrypted devices and services. The FBI has repeatedly criticized Apple’s privacy policies, particularly after the 2015 San Bernardino attack when Apple refused to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook argued then, as now, that creating a backdoor for law enforcement would inevitably weaken security for all users, as it could be exploited by bad actors. The FBI eventually found a workaround without Apple’s help, but the incident set the stage for ongoing tensions.
Cook’s White House Visit
Last month, Cook visited the White House, sparking speculation that his meeting with President Donald Trump was partly related to government demands for increased access to encrypted data. While the official agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, it is believed that Cook reiterated Apple’s firm stance on user privacy, despite mounting pressure from national security agencies.
The Trump administration had ramped up efforts to gain access to encrypted communications, citing concerns over terrorism and crime. The U.S. Department of Justice has previously advocated for legislation that would force tech companies to build backdoors into encrypted systems, a move that Apple and other tech firms have vehemently opposed.
Apple’s legal challenge in the U.K. is seen as part of a broader strategy to maintain its global privacy standards. While it has restricted the ADP feature in the U.K., Apple continues to offer strongly encrypted iCloud backups in other markets, signaling a refusal to compromise on privacy universally.
However, the U.K. government contends that this partial compliance is not enough. According to the Financial Times, the British government argues that Apple’s withdrawal of the ADP feature locally fails to address the order’s demand for access to data from users outside the U.K.
The Advanced Data Protection feature is a critical part of Apple’s security ecosystem, providing end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, including photos, messages, and other personal data. Encryption ensures that data is scrambled in such a way that only the intended recipient can decipher it. Apple itself does not hold the keys to decrypt this data, which is why the U.K. government’s demand essentially amounts to forcing Apple to redesign its system.
If Apple were to comply with the order, it could potentially undermine the security of millions of users by creating a vulnerability that could be exploited by hackers or authoritarian regimes. The company has argued that even a government-sanctioned backdoor would create a “master key” that could be misused.
The outcome of this case could set a precedent not only in the U.K. but also in other jurisdictions where governments are seeking to bypass encryption. Privacy advocates warn that if Apple is forced to comply, it could embolden other nations, including the U.S., to push for similar concessions.
