UK drops Apple encryption backdoor demand

The UK ends a push to force Apple to open encryption for US user data as part of broader trade talks.

UK drops Apple encryption backdoor demand

A UK official said authorities have rescinded the demand to bypass encryption for US user data. The move removes a point of contention as negotiators seek to finalize a broader trade agreement with the United States. Apple had temporarily disabled its most advanced encryption feature for UK cloud data in response to the dispute. The change shows how security policy can intersect with diplomacy when high stake talks are at play.

This episode shows how digital security policy can become a diplomatic lever. If encryption and privacy are treated as negotiable items, trust in cross border data flows can suffer. Officials may see this as a pragmatic move to keep momentum in a wider agreement while preserving core privacy protections. The incident also highlights the risk that policy shifts can be seen as signals about future regulatory direction.

Highlights

The next rounds of talks will test whether security and commerce can coexist.