https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/05/apple_reportedly_ipt_complaint/ # # Sign in / up The Register # # # Topics Security Security All SecurityCyber-crimePatchesResearchCSO (X) Off-Prem Off-Prem All Off-PremEdge + IoTChannelPaaS + IaaSSaaS (X) On-Prem On-Prem All On-PremSystemsStorageNetworksHPCPersonal TechCxOPublic Sector (X) Software Software All SoftwareAI + MLApplicationsDatabasesDevOpsOSesVirtualization (X) Offbeat Offbeat All OffbeatDebatesColumnistsScienceGeek's GuideBOFHLegalBootnotesSite NewsAbout Us (X) Special Features Special Features Ransomware in Focus The Future of the Datacenter Cybersecurity Month VMware Explore Cloud Infrastructure Month Vendor Voice Vendor Voice Vendor Voice All Vendor Voice SourceFuse Amazon Web Services (AWS) New Horizon in Cloud Computing Pure Storage Klika Tech HERE and AWS GE Vernova with AWS Google Cloud Data Transformation Google Gemini (X) Resources Resources Whitepapers Webinars & Events Newsletters [front] Security 42 comment bubble on white Apple drags UK government to court over 'backdoor' order 42 comment bubble on white A first-of-its-kind legal challenge set to be heard this month, per reports icon Connor Jones Wed 5 Mar 2025 // 14:38 UTC # Updated Apple has reportedly filed a legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) contesting the British government's order that it must forcibly break the encryption of iCloud data. The appeal will be the first of its kind lodged with the IPT, an independent judicial body that oversees legal complaints against potential unlawful actions by a public authority or UK intelligence services, according to the Financial Times, which broke the news. The revelation follows a battle between the iGadgetmaker and the UK's Home Office, which has long set its sights on Apple's encrypted cloud-hosted data, arguing it needs a backdoor in order for law enforcement to investigate persons of interest. secret agent eavesdrops using headphones plugged into an audio centre mounted with tape reels (illustration) UK's Investigatory Powers Bill to become law despite tech world opposition READ MORE Things came to a head in January when the Home Office issued Apple with a technical capability notice (TCN) under the Investigatory Powers Act, aka the Snooper's Charter, nearly a year after talk of such an order began. Despite being "technical" by name, it's understood that the notice didn't include any technical instructions for Apple, just an order to allow a so-called backdoor into its iCloud network which could be used to gather data that's otherwise typically out of reach of criminal investigators. [front] The Home Office refused to either confirm or deny the existence of the notice when we asked about it, and under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 Apple is prevented from revealing details about the notice. [front] [front] Apple responded by disabling its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for UK users in early February, effectively removing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for data backed up to iCloud to appease the government without fully complying with the TCN. We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will Still, it means British officials can feasibly sniff around iCloud accounts, provided they get a court-approved warrant to do so. With ADP disabled, various types of user account data - such as iCloud backups, photos, and notes, but not iMessages and health data - stored in Apple's cloud will not be end-to-end encrypted (E2EE), meaning the contents can be accessed and provided by Apple to investigators upon legal demand. It will also be done without alerting users, assuming someone involved in the process doesn't leak it at any stage. "We are gravely disappointed that the protections provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in the UK given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy," Apple told The Register at the time. "As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will," it added. [front] The Home Office has also previously voiced its ambition to break E2EE for all popular communications platforms in the UK, such as messaging app WhatsApp, although the case with Apple is believed to be its first foray into handing out TCNs to this end. The UK's entire approach to pressing ahead with the Investigatory Powers Act and its so-called war on encryption has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. Its main arguments in favor of breaking encryption are largely based on the prevention of terror attacks and child sexual exploitation. [front] Security minister Dan Jarvis further justified the powers in Parliament last week, saying requests to access user data under the Act could only be made on an "exceptional basis, and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so." Jarvis's comments came after being questioned by other MPs about the TCN, and seemingly aim to dissuade the public from thinking the government can simply access user data on a whim. The security minister didn't offer much in the way of additional insights, whipping out the good old national security defense as a way to avoid further questioning. * Governments can't seem to stop asking for secret backdoors * Signal will withdraw from Sweden if encryption-busting laws take effect * Encryption backdoor debate 'done and dusted,' former White House tech advisor says * End-to-end encryption may be the bane of cops, but they can't close that Pandora's Box * UK's Investigatory Powers Bill to become law despite tech world opposition Many who argue against the government's ambitions, such as Big Brother Watch, say the action taken against Apple is "outrageous" and "draconian" and may eventually force encrypted messaging technology underground, meaning only criminals would have access to it. US President Donald Trump also recently compared the UK's treatment of Apple to the extensive state surveillance methods deployed by China - the two countries' foremost intelligence adversary. US director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has ordered a legal review of the TCN issued to Apple out of concern it could be used to gather data on US citizens. Doing so would violate the terms of the US-UK Cloud Act Agreement, she argued. The Register has asked Apple for further comment. (r) Updated to add at 1833 UTC Interestingly enough, the UK government appears to have scrubbed from the web its previous and now politically inconvenient advice to barristers, solicitors, and others in sensitive professions to use Apple's ADP at-rest end-to-end encryption. Fancy that! Get our Tech Resources # Share More about * Apple * Cybersecurity * Encryption More like these x More about * Apple * Cybersecurity * Encryption * Home Office Narrower topics * AirTag * Apple M1 * App stores * Emergency Services Network * iCloud * iMac * iOS * iPad * iPhone * iPod * iTunes * Let's Encrypt * Mac * MacBook * RSA Conference * Safari * Signal * Siri * Tim Cook * TLS * Zero trust Broader topics * Government of the United Kingdom * Security * Steve Jobs * Steve Wozniak More about # Share 42 comment bubble on white COMMENTS More about * Apple * Cybersecurity * Encryption More like these x More about * Apple * Cybersecurity * Encryption * Home Office Narrower topics * AirTag * Apple M1 * App stores * Emergency Services Network * iCloud * iMac * iOS * iPad * iPhone * iPod * iTunes * Let's Encrypt * Mac * MacBook * RSA Conference * Safari * Signal * Siri * Tim Cook * TLS * Zero trust Broader topics * Government of the United Kingdom * Security * Steve Jobs * Steve Wozniak TIP US OFF Send us news --------------------------------------------------------------------- Other stories you might like The software UK techies need to protect themselves now Apple's ADP won't No matter how deep you are in Apple's 'ecosystem,' there are ways to stay encrypted in Blighty Security24 Feb 2025 | 124 Rather than add a backdoor, Apple decides to kill iCloud encryption for UK peeps Infosec in brief Plus: SEC launches new crypto crime unit; Phishing toolkit upgraded; and more Security24 Feb 2025 | 88 Signal will withdraw from Sweden if encryption-busting laws take effect Experts warned the UK's recent 'victory' over Apple would kickstart something of a domino effect Security26 Feb 2025 | 119 Data resilience and data portability Why organizations should protect everything, everywhere, all at once Sponsored Feature [front] US lawmakers press Trump admin to oppose UK's order for Apple iCloud backdoor Senator, Congressman tell DNI to threaten infosec agreements if Blighty won't back down Security13 Feb 2025 | 57 UK Home Office silent on alleged Apple backdoor order Blighty's latest stab at encryption? 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