Spy chief Tulsi Gabbard confirms Britain’s reversal on encrypted data access following civil liberties concerns and high-level negotiations
UK Backs Off Apple Encryption Backdoor
The UK has dropped its request for special access to Apple’s iCloud encryption.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on X that the British government has withdrawn its demand for a backdoor into Apple’s cloud infrastructure—particularly targeting iCloud’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature.
- Gabbard said the outcome followed negotiations involving President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
- She emphasized that the decision protects the privacy of American citizens and upholds civil liberties.
Background: The “Snoopers’ Charter” Dispute
The conflict stems from the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
Commonly known as the Snoopers’ Charter, this law allows the British government to demand access to encrypted data from tech companies.
- In February 2025, The Washington Post revealed the UK had secretly ordered Apple to build a backdoor into ADP-encrypted iCloud data.
- ADP encrypts user data end-to-end, meaning even Apple can’t access it.
- Critics feared that forcing Apple to comply would undermine global privacy standards and invite similar demands from other governments.
Apple’s Response and Resistance
Apple took immediate steps to push back.
In response to the demand, Apple disabled ADP in the UK, blocking new activations and warning existing users that the feature may be phased out locally.
- The company also challenged the legal order in court, which was initially sealed but later ordered to be held in public.
- Apple has long maintained that it has “never built a backdoor or master key” for any of its products and “never will.”
A Win for Privacy Advocates
Privacy experts had condemned the UK’s request.
The original demand drew global criticism from security researchers and digital rights advocates who warned that backdoors weaken security for all users, not just criminal suspects.
- Experts argued that such access wouldn’t stay exclusive to democratic governments and could be abused by authoritarian regimes.
- Gabbard’s announcement marks a rare and public intelligence endorsement of digital privacy protections.
What’s Next for Apple and Encrypted Data
It’s unclear whether Apple will restore ADP access in the UK.
Neither Apple nor the UK Home Office has commented on the policy reversal, and it remains to be seen if Apple will re-enable ADP for new UK users or roll back previous restrictions.
- The case may set a significant precedent for how democratic governments handle secure cloud encryption moving forward.
- The resolution could also deter future legal pushes for encryption backdoors under the guise of national security.
