Apple Disables Advanced Data Protection in UK Following Government Demand

The UK government requested a backdoor to iCloud encryption, prompting Apple to pull its strongest security feature for UK users.

Apple has disabled its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature in the UK after receiving a government request under the Investigatory Powers Act to bypass iCloud encryption.
ADP provided end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, ensuring only users could access their data, but is no longer available to new or existing users in the UK.
The UK government’s demand raises global privacy concerns, as critics warn that backdoors weaken security universally and could set a precedent for other countries to follow.
Apple reiterated its longstanding commitment to never building backdoors into its services, expressing disappointment over the inability to offer ADP in the UK.
Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts have criticized the move, arguing it undermines user security and could have far-reaching implications for data protection worldwide.