Photo by Armand Valendez
Apple will no longer be required to grant the United Kingdom government access to encrypted data of American users, according to the United States’ Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. This development signals the conclusion of a prolonged privacy dispute between Washington and London.
On Monday, Gabbard revealed that the UK had agreed to retract its demand that Apple create a “back door” into its encrypted systems—a move that would have violated the civil liberties and privacy of US citizens. She explained that this reversal followed months of diplomatic discussions aimed at ensuring that Americans’ private data remains secure and constitutional rights are upheld.
The UK government declined to comment on specific operational details but reaffirmed the existence of longstanding joint security and intelligence partnerships with the US, which include measures to protect privacy.
“We will continue to build on those arrangements and maintain a strong security framework to pursue terrorists and serious criminals operating in the UK,” a UK government spokesperson said. “All necessary actions at the domestic level will be taken to ensure the safety of UK citizens.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
The UK’s decision to back down on encryption demands follows Apple’s announcement in February that it could no longer offer its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature—its highest level of security—in the UK. Although Apple did not clarify the reason, this announcement came shortly after The Washington Post reported that UK security officials had secretly ordered Apple to provide broad access to cloud data from users globally.
Under the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act, authorities can issue a “technical capability notice” requiring companies to disable encryption or provide access to encrypted data. Recipients of such notices are legally bound to maintain secrecy about the order unless authorized otherwise by the government.
It remains unclear if Apple will resume offering Advanced Data Protection in the UK following the recent developments.
Like other major technology companies, Apple promotes its use of end-to-end encryption as a key commitment to user privacy. This technology scrambles data so that it cannot be accessed by third parties, including law enforcement agencies and the tech companies themselves.
Governments worldwide have frequently sought to weaken or bypass encryption, arguing that it protects serious criminals from surveillance and justice. However, privacy advocates and civil liberties groups have strongly criticized these efforts, stating that such measures unjustly treat innocent users as suspects and put everyone’s privacy and security at risk.
John Pane, chair of the advocacy organization Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), hailed the UK’s reported retreat as a major victory for digital rights and security.
“Creating a backdoor to Apple’s encrypted user data would pose a serious risk, vulnerable to exploitation by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes,” Pane told Al Jazeera.
“EFA believes access to encryption technology is essential for individuals and groups to protect the privacy and security of their information. It is also fundamental to the digital economy. The right to encrypted communications must be legally guaranteed.”
Rebecca Vincent, interim director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, welcomed the announcement but cautioned that it addresses only a symptom rather than the broader problem.
“The mass surveillance powers granted under the Investigatory Powers Act continue to pose a major threat to privacy in the UK,” Vincent told Al Jazeera.
“This harsh legislation is unfit for purpose and urgently requires reform to adequately safeguard privacy rights.”
The UK’s initial demand for Apple to unlock encrypted data had alarmed technology companies and privacy advocates alike, underscoring a growing global tension between government security interests and individual digital privacy. Critics argue that weakening encryption not only fails to effectively combat crime but also jeopardizes trust in digital services.
This latest development offers relief to privacy defenders but also highlights the ongoing fragility of encryption protections amid expanding governmental surveillance powers worldwide.
