British officials reportedly engaged in private discussions with their U.S. counterparts to address concerns that the UK is pressuring Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted data belonging to Americans, as per Bloomberg News sources. Last month, Apple responded to government requests for user data access by removing its Advanced Data Protection encryption for cloud data in Britain. This move grants Apple access to iCloud backups, including iMessages, in specific situations where it may be required to provide data to authorities. With end-to-end encryption in place, not even Apple can access the data. Apple and the UK’s Home Office have yet to comment on the matter. The ongoing dispute reflects the broader conflict between governments and technology companies over the implementation of strong encryption to safeguard individuals’ communications, a practice that authorities often see as a hindrance to surveillance and law enforcement efforts. U.S. officials are reportedly investigating whether the UK violated agreements with the U.S. by allegedly demanding that Apple create a government access “back door” to encrypted cloud storage systems. The U.S. director of national intelligence is said to be examining the situation to determine if the UK breached the CLOUD Act, which prohibits demands for data of U.S. citizens and vice versa. Apple’s appeal against the UK order is set for a confidential hearing at London’s High Court, as reported by the BBC.
