Apple announced that it will be removing encrypted storage protections for iPhone users in Britain, following a government demand to create a back door to access customer cloud data. The Advanced Data Protection feature, which encrypted iCloud data, will no longer be available for users in the country starting Friday, as the British government sought to compel Apple to provide access to intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Apple’s decision comes after the government passed amendments to the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, allowing for the compulsory turnover of data from companies. The company had previously protested the amendments, arguing against the creation of back doors into software products.
By removing the feature, Apple hopes to convince the British government to drop its request for access to users’ cloud data. However, there is a possibility that the government may continue to press for access, citing national security concerns.
This move by Apple harkens back to the company’s stance against the FBI in 2016 over access to an iPhone used in a terrorist attack. Apple has marketed its devices as more private than competitors, with a commercial emphasizing privacy from surveillance cameras. The clash between Apple and the British government sheds light on the ongoing debate around encryption and data privacy.
Experts warn that undermining encryption could lead to catastrophic collapses in digital security. As views on encryption evolve in the US government, with a recent breach of American telecommunications, the role of encryption in safeguarding digital information remains a topic of significant debate.
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