Tue, 04 Mar 2025

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 Apple takes legal action in UK data privacy row

The tech giant is appealing a government order for access to customers' private data, the BBC understands.
Apple has filed a lawsuit with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal to challenge a government order that requires the company to provide access to encrypted data belonging to its customers, including those who use Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature. The tribunal has the power to investigate claims against the Security Service and determine whether the government's demand is lawful. In January, the Home Office issued a secret notice to Apple requiring the company to share encrypted data with UK law enforcement in cases of potential national security threats. However, Apple removed ADP from the UK market rather than comply with the order, which it claimed would involve creating a "backdoor" in the tool to allow access. The move has sparked concerns about reduced protections for UK iCloud users and has been criticized by US officials, including Tulsi Gabbard, who said that she was not informed of the government's demand and called it an "egregious violation" of US citizens' rights to privacy. The Home Office has defended its position, stating that the UK has a longstanding commitment to protecting citizens from serious crimes while also protecting their privacy. The tribunal case is expected to be heard in the coming weeks, but may not be made public due to legal restrictions.
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