The United Kingdom has launched a renewed effort to compel Apple to develop a backdoor into its cloud storage system, this time restricting the demand to data belonging to British citizens.
This development follows earlier tensions between London and Washington over global encryption access.
In early September, the UK Home Office issued a technical capability notice to Apple, requiring the creation of a mechanism for officials to access encrypted cloud backups exclusively for UK users, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.
The order aims to equip law enforcement with tools to combat serious crimes, including terrorism and child sexual abuse, under the provisions of the Investigatory Powers Act.
A prior notice from January had demanded worldwide access to such data, igniting a diplomatic dispute with the United States and jeopardizing post-Brexit trade negotiations.
That earlier mandate prompted Apple to suspend its most secure iCloud feature, Advanced Data Protection, for new UK customers in February.
“Apple is still unable to offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users,” the company stated recently.
“We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP are not available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy.”
The January order drew sharp criticism from key figures in the Trump administration, who viewed it as akin to authoritarian surveillance practices.
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced in August that the UK had agreed to abandon demands for access to encrypted data of American citizens.
A source near the administration emphasized that any encryption compromise would undermine safeguards for US users, insisting on a complete withdrawal of the request.
In response to the initial demand, Apple filed a complaint with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, supported by legal actions from privacy advocates Privacy International and Liberty.
The case was slated for hearing early next year, though the new order could prompt a fresh round of proceedings.
Both Apple and the Home Office remain legally barred from publicly acknowledging the notices.
The Home Office affirmed its commitment to domestic security measures without elaborating.
Privacy advocates warn that even a UK-specific backdoor could erode end-to-end encryption globally, exposing sensitive information like passwords, messages, and health records to exploitation by malicious actors.
Caroline Wilson Palow of Privacy International described the renewed order as posing “just as big a threat to worldwide security and privacy” as its predecessor.
She argued that weakening encryption in one jurisdiction inevitably creates vulnerabilities exploitable by hostile states and criminals internationally.
US lawmakers echoed these concerns, highlighting risks of data breaches by cybercriminals and authoritarian regimes.
The latest push coincides with improving bilateral ties, as evidenced by President Donald Trump's recent state visit to the UK, where Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced substantial US investments in British AI infrastructure.
Despite discussions during the visit, senior UK officials indicate that US pressure to retract the order has subsided.