UK backs down on Apple back door demand

The UK retreats from pressing Apple to provide a back door into encrypted data after pressure from the Trump administration.

UK withdraws Apple back door demand under Trump pressure

The Home Office reportedly issued an order under the Investigatory Powers Act to access encrypted data in iCloud. Apple says it cannot access private user data and will not build a back door. In February Apple rolled back Advanced Data Protection for UK users.

US officials including Tulsi Gabbard say they worked with the UK and with President Trump to reach a deal that preserves sovereignty while keeping data cooperation. A White House official says the agreement is mutually beneficial. The discussion drew concern from security experts about the risk of foreign governments spying on users.

The episode shows how encryption policy has moved from a domestic privacy issue to a matter of diplomacy. When a government leans on a big tech firm, the firm becomes part of a tug of war between authority and civil liberty.

The outcome may set a pattern where cross border data access is shaped by deals between allies rather than by rules in a single country. The result could influence future policy in other markets and raise new questions about how to protect user privacy.

Highlights

The encryption debate remains unsettled as governments and companies navigate this new diplomatic terrain.