More than 100 civil society organizations, technology companies and cybersecurity experts are calling the United Kingdom to terminate its order to Apple to create a rear door for its storage service in the end -to -end encrypted cloud service.
The United Kingdom Apple Icloud back “endangers the security and privacy of millions, undermines the technological sector of the United Kingdom and establishes a dangerous precedent for global cybersecurity,” wrote the coalition in an open letter published on the 13th of February 2025.
This comes since Apple could soon be forced to give all the users of users to the United Kingdom government, which recently presented the great technological giant with a notice issued under the Law of Investigation Powers. The demands are notable, since it is addressed to all users of iPhone, iPad and macOS content worldwide have stored using Apple’s advanced data protection (ADP).
Until now, the signatories include some companies that use encryption technologies to build their software such as Surfshark, one of the best VPN services in the market, the element of the application of encrypted messaging and the secure email Tuta. The letter will remain open to more signs in the cybersecurity industry until February 20, before being sent to the Interior Secretary.
The consequences of undermining encryption
Encryption is the spine of privacy and internet safety. This technology, in fact, reveals the online content in an illegible way to keep it private between the sender and the receiver at all times.
The law application agencies, however, find the encrypted software as an obstacle when conducting criminal investigations and are pressing to find a way to choose this digital block.
This is the reason why the United Kingdom issued a notice of technical capacity (or TCN) to Apple under the controversial Law of Research Powers 2016, which adds to continuous pressures inside and outside Europe to create rear positions in the encryption software.
If you succeed, experts explain, the consequences could go far beyond the country’s border. “The second largest mobile devices supplier in the world would be built in addition to a systemic security failure, putting at risk the safety and privacy of all its users, not only in the United Kingdom but worldwide.”
More than 100 Internet leaders, academics, organizations and companies have expressed their alarm with the attempt of the United Kingdom government to create rear in encrypted backups. They demand that you stop. Read the full open letter here ⬇️ https://t.co/khbxrh114aFebruary 13, 2025
Cybersecurity experts have argued for a long time that the encryption butt cannot work at a technical level. The encryption is safe for everyone, or it is not for anyone. This is the mantra repeated religiously throughout the industry to explain how criminals will also exploit these vulnerabilities required by the Government for its advantage.
Experts are especially concerned about the impact that undermine the confidentiality of cloud storage services will have in the most vulnerable users whose online confidentiality can be critical to prevent harassment.
Did you know?
Following the attack of salt typhons linked by China against all the main national telecommunications companies, the US authorities have urged all Americans to change to encrypted communications. “The encryption is your friend,” said one of CISA’s executives in December.
They also fear for the national security of the United Kingdom as “providing rear in one case can cause encryption to weaken throughout the public sector ecosystem,” they said.
However, not only privacy and security. The demands of the rear door of the United Kingdom encryption can foster an exodus of technological companies that are not willing to undermine their security infrastructure in the country. The tastes of Signal and WhatsApp already threatened to leave the United Kingdom for similar reasons for the online security security row.
“The United Kingdom companies will also suffer damage to reputation, since foreign investors and consumers will consider whether their products are plagued with secret security vulnerabilities by the United Kingdom government,” experts warn.
“To guarantee the national and economic security of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Interior must finish its notice of technical capacity that forces Apple to break its extreme encryption.”
While Apple or the Interior Ministry of the United Kingdom refused to comment on the matter so far, American legislators are now urging Trump administration to go back.
Nor is it clear how the requirements will be technically implemented, as well as if Google’s or goal tastes are, or will become the next objective.
