Wed, 26 Feb 2025

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 What Apple pulling Advanced Data Protection means for you

The tech giant's decision has prompted questions and concerns about reduced protections for UK iCloud users.

* Apple has stopped allowing new users in the UK to sign up for Advanced Data Protection (ADP), a tool that provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud data.
* This decision was made after the Home Office asked Apple to allow law enforcement agencies to access encrypted data, which would compromise user privacy.
* Existing users who had enabled ADP will lose access to it at a later date, although no specific date has been announced.
* The removal of ADP means that UK users' iCloud data will only be protected by standard encryption, which can still be accessed by Apple and law enforcement agencies with a warrant.
* Cybersecurity experts have criticized the decision, warning that other governments may follow the UK's lead in demanding access to encrypted data.
* Apple has stated that it has never built a "backdoor" or master key into its products, but some experts remain concerned about the implications of this move.
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