The UK government has withdrawn its controversial order requiring Apple to create a backdoor for accessing encrypted user data worldwide. The decision, revealed by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, follows Apple’s firm refusal and legal challenge against the directive issued under the Investigatory Powers Act in December 2024. Privacy advocates welcomed the move but warned that the underlying law still poses risks to digital security.
Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature—which prevents even the company from accessing user data—led to a standoff with UK authorities. Rather than compromise its encryption, Apple removed ADP from the UK market and initiated legal proceedings, with a tribunal hearing scheduled for 2026. The UK government declined to confirm or deny the order’s withdrawal, citing operational secrecy.
Privacy and civil rights groups reacted with cautious relief. Sam Grant of Liberty called the reversal "hugely welcome" but emphasized that the Investigatory Powers Act still empowers future governments to target encryption. Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group noted that the law continues to threaten user security and enable potential data abuse.
The situation highlights tensions between national security demands and digital privacy rights. While the US-UK Data Access Agreement already facilitates cross-border data sharing for law enforcement, attempts to force tech companies to weaken encryption remain contentious. Apple reiterated its longstanding policy: it has "never built a backdoor" and "never will," underscoring its commitment to user privacy despite governmental pressure.
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