Apple Limits iCloud End-To-End Encryption In The UK

Apple will be removing a powerful encryption setting from iCloud for new device owners in the United Kingdom. This feature, called Advanced Data Protection, once protected backups and synced content with a very strict form of encryption. Officials demanded simpler ways to view stored data, so Apple halted that layer for new arrivals in that region.

ADP launched late last year and kept iCloud backups, photos, and messages invisible to Apple itself. The news marks a turn for Apple in Britain, as the company adapts to local regulations while insisting it values user privacy. Existing users who turned on ADP before will be told at some stage to shut it off.

Under the new plan, backups in Britain involve a form of encryption where Apple keeps the codes. That allows law enforcement to gather data if proper orders are in place. Removing ADP is seen as easier than creating a hidden passcode for investigators. This choice spares the rest of the world but leaves UK data more exposed.

 

What Does This Decision Mean For Users?

 

For those who trusted ADP to block unauthorised access, this is a worrying moment. The extra lock on backups had kept personal files out of Apple’s hands, preventing any legal requests from prying open that data. Now that the company stores the codes, British courts can order iCloud materials more easily in official cases.

Some privacy advocates say this could weaken overall data security. Hackers might try to exploit any system where a company holds the passcodes. Apple insists it has never built a secret backdoor, but some voices point out that once a channel for official access exists, others may find a way in through that same route.

Users can still keep backups entirely on their devices if they want complete control. That option carries risks, because losing or damaging a phone without a cloud copy may erase files for good. Many see that as the final shield, especially if they prioritise strong privacy over convenience and do not want Apple holding their codes.

Those worried about privacy say the door is open to turning off ADP in other places, based on outside pushes. Apple has signalled that it will keep strong encryption in areas not covered by such demands. Google’s Android backups also make use of encryption, though each platform has its own structure. Many view Apple’s action in the UK as a major turning point.

 

 

Has Encryption Faced Similar Disputes In The Past?

 

Encryption has caused friction for decades. In the 1990s, leaders in the United States attempted a chip called the Clipper, which would have granted access to protected data. Backlash shut down that scheme, revealing a long history of clashes over who holds the power to open digital locks. Apple has been a big name in these discussions for years.

A memorable incident took place in 2016, when the FBI demanded Apple unlock an iPhone belonging to a suspect in a tragic case in San Bernardino, California. The company refused, saying that custom software to break one phone could open a path to all devices. The authorities eventually hired outside help, but the split showed how fierce the debate can get.

Many see the latest UK case as a continuation of that pattern. Governments believe that unchecked encryption makes it harder to tackle serious crime, while privacy defenders insist that no one should hold absolute power over personal data. Apple’s move in Britain removes a strong shield from iCloud backups, raising questions about what might follow in other places.

Australia is one place often mentioned in connection with moves to weaken encryption. Its laws contain provisions that mirror the Investigatory Powers Act. Some think the UK example might lead Australian officials to issue similar requests. The overall contest between tech companies and official agencies continues, with privacy supporters pushing back against demands for easier access to user data.