Apple vs. UK: Encryption Battle Escalates Over Data Access Demands
The British government under Prime Minister Keir Strandmer is about to rush back to encrypted Apple services in a dispute over access. This was learned by the business newspaper Financial Times From two high -ranking government officials.
“You can’t do that”
In the past few weeks, the US government has increasingly put pressure on the British. The background is a so -called “Technical Capability Notice”, which the Interior Ministry sent to Apple in January. This obliges the company to incorporate a back door into its particularly secure cloud storage system, so that law enforcement authorities could be given access to user data. Apple subsequently deducted its safest cloud service from the United Kingdom in February and submitted a legal complaint to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The META group has now announced that Apple would be legally supported.
In the United States, the British approach causes considerable irritation. According to the British government sources, Vice President JD Vance was “very angry” about the measure. US President Donald Trump also expressed sharp criticism. He compared the advance to authoritarian practices in China and is said to have warned Premier Straver directly: “You can’t do that.”
Fully betrayed
According to the British government officials, the argument also endangers strategic digital agreements between Great Britain and the USA – for example in the field of artificial intelligence and data partnerships. The topic of encryption in Washington is a red line, it said. The US side fears a violation of data protection rights from its citizens, especially in the context of existing transatlantic data protection agreements.
In the meantime, there does not seem to be a uniform line within the British government. While the Ministry of the Interior continues to defend its position, there are increasing voices that are demanding. An official spoke of a “homemade problem” that now requires a way out. Apple continues to emphasize that a back door has never been installed in products and will not do so in the future. So far, the British government has not officially commented on the conflict.
