The Home Office has asked for access to Apple data (Image: Getty)
Tech giant Apple will remove its highest level of data protection from customers in the UK following a Home Office demand for access.
The Home Office had issued an order asking for access to encrypted files stored in the cloud. In response, the tech giant has now confirmed it was removing a tool called Advanced Data Protection (ADP) from use in the UK, which had meant only account holders could view files as they were end-to-end encrypted.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Sponsored
Promoted Links Promoted Links
8 Mar - SHAPE Top-Up Degrees Information DaySHAPE Apply Now
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
54 Comments
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
My council just hiked tax by 4.99% - you won't believe what they're wasting millions on
114 Comments
Keir Starmer plots major Brexit U-turn over free movement
1930 Comments
Rachel Reeves' move means businesses now cutting jobs faster than since lockdown
38 Comments
Dopey Yvette Cooper has lost the plot entirely with totally useless knife crime proposal
90 Comments
Nigel Farage just landed one major blow against Tories who need new stick to beat Reform
152 Comments
I'm a legal expert - this is why Baroness Carr was wrong to criticise Kemi Badenoch
44 Comments
Keir Starmer must act on this one huge injustice raiding British people's pockets
27 Comments
Tom Cruise's Daughter Was So Beautiful, Look At Her Now.Favour Lifestyle
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Warning issued to iPhone and iPad users as Apple scraps encryption in UK
2 Comments
Red alert for all Gmail users and ignoring new email warning could be 'devastating'
22 Comments
Walmart Photos Which Are Not For EveryoneOld Money Style
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Privacy row as Home Office asks for iPhone users' data - sparking huge change
11 Comments
'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims
9 Comments
工程Top-up Degrees 专业技能助您筑起前路SHAPE 才晋高等教育学院 立即申请
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Robert Jenrick fumes over grooming gang members on the run - 'where are they?'
15 Comments
Ex-Labour minister Andrew Gwynne faces investigation over offensive WhatsApp group
13 Comments
狗狗不让宝宝一个人睡觉——父母终於发现了原因！有趣事实 阅读更多
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
They were so beautiful before; look at them now; number 10 will shock youWillIBeHappy.com
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
10 Celebrities Without Makeup; Number 10 Will Shock YouTelehealth Dave
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
54 Comments
Dog Raises 3 Tiger Cubs - Years Later Zookeeper Bursts Into Tears When This Happens5minstory.com
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
My council just hiked tax by 4.99% - you won't believe what they're wasting millions on
114 Comments
Her Outfit Caught Everyone's Eye The StadiumTrue Edition
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Keir Starmer plots major Brexit U-turn over free movement
1930 Comments
Rachel Reeves' move means businesses now cutting jobs faster than since lockdown
38 Comments
30 photos that really make you thinkHigh Tally
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Dopey Yvette Cooper has lost the plot entirely with totally useless knife crime proposal
90 Comments
Nigel Farage just landed one major blow against Tories who need new stick to beat Reform
152 Comments
She Was Everyone's Dream Girl, Take a Look At Her NowWillIBeHappy.com
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
I'm a legal expert - this is why Baroness Carr was wrong to criticise Kemi Badenoch
44 Comments
Keir Starmer must act on this one huge injustice raiding British people's pockets
27 Comments
Warning issued to iPhone and iPad users as Apple scraps encryption in UK
2 Comments
Red alert for all Gmail users and ignoring new email warning could be 'devastating'
22 Comments
Privacy row as Home Office asks for iPhone users' data - sparking huge change
11 Comments
'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims
9 Comments
Robert Jenrick fumes over grooming gang members on the run - 'where are they?'
15 Comments
Ex-Labour minister Andrew Gwynne faces investigation over offensive WhatsApp group
13 Comments
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
54 Comments
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
Senior Conservative MP David Davis is to raise concerns in Parliamnet and warned the decision meant private information could be read by both the UK and foreign governments.
He said: "In an attempt to meet the demands of the Home Office - demands made on false illusions of providing security - Apple has been forced to entirely undermine the online security of pretty much every UK citizen who uses an Apple product."
He warned: "What this decision means is that if you back up your Apple data to iCloud, it will no longer benefit from end-to-end encryption and could potentially be read by the State. And not just our State."
Sponsored
YUKINOUE 了解更多
在万宁买的「全效合一水凝霜」只涂1个月！照镜子吓了一跳！
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
READ MORE: Fury over judges' 'ludicrous' decision to treat balding migrant as child
American politicians reacted with fury over the request, urging Washington to stop sharing sensitive intelligence with the UK.
Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Andy Biggs have written to national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard saying the demand threatens the privacy and security of the US.
They urged her to give the UK an ultimatum: "Back down from this dangerous attack on US cybersecurity, or face serious consequences."
"While the UK has been a trusted ally, the US government must not permit what is effectively a foreign cyberattack waged through political means," the US politicians wrote.
A spokesperson for human rights campaigners Amnesty said: "This is a deeply worrying step in the wrong direction. Human rights - and the people who defend them - are under attack across the world right now, and unlawful surveillance is one of the key tactics governments are using to silence people, suppress dissent, or just to target people because of who they are.
"Strong encryption is one of the last only defenses we have, and especially if we now see these sorts of legal attacks on it replicated globally, it will put all of us, and all of our rights, at risk."
Dray Agha, senior manager of security operations at cybersecurity firm Huntress said: “Apple’s decision to pull Advanced Data Protection in the UK is a direct response to increasing Government demands for access to encrypted user data.
“Weakening encryption not only makes UK users more vulnerable to cyber threats but also sets a dangerous precedent for global privacy.
“Governments argue this helps law enforcement, but history shows that any backdoor created for one party can eventually be exploited by bad actors. The broader concern is that this move could pressure other companies to weaken their security, putting personal data worldwide at greater risk.”
In a statement, the tech giant said: "Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users and current UK users will eventually need to disable this security feature. ADP protects iCloud data with end-to-end encryption, which means the data can only be decrypted by the user who owns it, and only on their trusted devices.
"We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy.
"Enhancing the security of cloud storage with end-to-end encryption is more urgent than ever before. Apple remains committed to offering our users the highest level of security for their personal data and are hopeful that we will be able to do so in the future in the United Kingdom.
“As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will."
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
But some campaigners welcomed the move, saying it will give police more opportunities to snare paedophiles online.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
55 Comments
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
My council just hiked tax by 4.99% - you won't believe what they're wasting millions on
114 Comments
Keir Starmer plots major Brexit U-turn over free movement
1929 Comments
Rachel Reeves' move means businesses now cutting jobs faster than since lockdown
38 Comments
Dopey Yvette Cooper has lost the plot entirely with totally useless knife crime proposal
90 Comments
Nigel Farage just landed one major blow against Tories who need new stick to beat Reform
152 Comments
I'm a legal expert - this is why Baroness Carr was wrong to criticise Kemi Badenoch
44 Comments
Keir Starmer must act on this one huge injustice raiding British people's pockets
27 Comments
Everybody Wanted To Date Her In The 80's & This Is Her RecentlyBoite A Scoop
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Warning issued to iPhone and iPad users as Apple scraps encryption in UK
2 Comments
Red alert for all Gmail users and ignoring new email warning could be 'devastating'
22 Comments
Access all TV channels anywhere, anytimeTechno Mag
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Privacy row as Home Office asks for iPhone users' data - sparking huge change
11 Comments
'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims
9 Comments
无国界医生 - 由衷感谢大家2024年的所有支持无国界医生（香港） 立即捐款
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Robert Jenrick fumes over grooming gang members on the run - 'where are they?'
15 Comments
Ex-Labour minister Andrew Gwynne faces investigation over offensive WhatsApp group
13 Comments
做手术之馀 - 帮助黎巴嫩重开医院无国界医生（香港） 立即捐款
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
Remember Tiger's Ex-Wife? Try Not To Smile When You See Her NowPaperela
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
请不要吃以下的7种食物！它们是会致癌的Health 24/7
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
55 Comments
机电工程署「技术员训练计划」现正招聘。截止申请日期：3月10日机电工程署 了解更多
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
My council just hiked tax by 4.99% - you won't believe what they're wasting millions on
114 Comments
绝对不要食用这些会致癌的食品Health 24/7
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Keir Starmer plots major Brexit U-turn over free movement
1929 Comments
Rachel Reeves' move means businesses now cutting jobs faster than since lockdown
38 Comments
Oldest Stars Who Are Still Alive And Often ForgottenWillIBeHappy.com
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Dopey Yvette Cooper has lost the plot entirely with totally useless knife crime proposal
90 Comments
Nigel Farage just landed one major blow against Tories who need new stick to beat Reform
152 Comments
Anne Hegerty, 66, Shows Off Massive Weight Loss In Fierce New PhotoOld Money Style
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
I'm a legal expert - this is why Baroness Carr was wrong to criticise Kemi Badenoch
44 Comments
Keir Starmer must act on this one huge injustice raiding British people's pockets
27 Comments
Warning issued to iPhone and iPad users as Apple scraps encryption in UK
2 Comments
Red alert for all Gmail users and ignoring new email warning could be 'devastating'
22 Comments
Privacy row as Home Office asks for iPhone users' data - sparking huge change
11 Comments
'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims
9 Comments
Robert Jenrick fumes over grooming gang members on the run - 'where are they?'
15 Comments
Ex-Labour minister Andrew Gwynne faces investigation over offensive WhatsApp group
13 Comments
Labour minister Jonathan Reynolds under investigation over solicitor CV claims
175 Comments
Labour still doesn't get one major reason UK is being laughed at on world stage
165 Comments
POLL: Do you agree with Sadiq Khan that Brexit was a 'mistake'?
241 Comments
There must be sackings! Reform MPs' fury as BBC pulls ‘propaganda' documentary
137 Comments
David Lammy humiliated at major summit after Russia minister's brutal snub
945 Comments
Brits face brutal tax rises to pay for huge defence spending hike
55 Comments
Rachel Reeves dealt fresh blow as borrowing soars and jobs are cut
27 Comments
男孩以为自己救了狗，得知真相後脸色惨白Daily-Tales.com
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
不小心把钥匙断在锁孔很深怎么取出?不要著急TopManFun
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
钥匙断在锁芯裡，怎么都取不出来怎么办?今天教你一招TopManFun
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New PhotoFavour Lifestyle
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Rani Govender, Policy Manager for Child Safety Online at the NSPCC, said: "We know that end-to-end encryption allows offenders to groom and manipulate children and build communities where they can share vile child sexual abuse material without detection.
"As Apple changes their approach to encryption on their services, they must take this opportunity to ensure that they are considering other measures they can put in place to better protect children.
"All tech companies should be finding ways to tackle online risks to children whilst upholding privacy of their users, and Ofcom and Government should hold them accountable for doing so."