Apple has stopped offering encrypted cloud storage to its users in the UK. This change comes after the government secretly demanded that Apple provide a backdoor to access encrypted data. The company confirmed that its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service, which allows users to keep their data fully encrypted in iCloud, will no longer be available to new users in the UK. Current users will eventually have to turn off this feature.
This decision puts UK users at a greater risk for cyber threats, as they won’t have the option to fully encrypt their personal data anymore. While ADP will remain available in other countries, the UK government’s demand caused a stir, especially in the US, where Congress accused the UK of a cyber attack by political means and even called for the UK to be removed from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.
Apple has consistently stated it will not build a backdoor into any of its products. The company emphasized that the security provided by ADP is more vital than ever given the rise in data breaches. Apple expressed disappointment that UK customers will be losing this layer of protection, especially with ongoing threats to customer privacy.
If users in the UK haven’t enabled ADP yet, they won’t have the option to do so. The nine iCloud data categories protected by ADP, such as iCloud Backup and Photos, will now rely on standard data protection instead of end-to-end encryption, leaving users without the highest level of security. However, 14 categories, like iCloud Keychain and Health, still feature end-to-end encryption by default, and communication services like iMessage and FaceTime remain secure globally.
For existing ADP users, Apple will provide guidance on how to disable the feature themselves, as it can’t be turned off automatically. Meanwhile, ADP remains available worldwide.
Matthew Hodgson, CEO of Element, a secure communications platform, noted that Apple didn’t really have a choice. He explained that a secure service can’t also have a backdoor; that contradiction compromises security entirely. Research from Element revealed that 83% of UK citizens want maximum security and privacy, but Hodgson stressed that the government’s actions have endangered user data. He highlighted real-world examples where backdoors have been exploited, emphasizing that such vulnerabilities harm the security landscape.
Recently, over 100 cybersecurity experts, companies, and advocacy groups signed a letter urging the home secretary to abandon the call for Apple to create a backdoor into its services. They warned that this move endangers millions of personal data and threatens the future of the UK’s tech industry and global cybersecurity standards.