Apple Won't Have to Provide an Encryption Backdoor in the UK, Says US Official

The US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced on social media late Monday evening that Apple will not be required to provide an encryption backdoor in the UK, easing concerns about weakened privacy and security safeguards. Gabbard said the the private data of Americans will be protected after an agreement was apparently worked out with the UK, following prolonged behind-the-scenes maneuvering. "Over the past few months, I've been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside @POTUS and @VP, to ensure Americans' private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected," Gabbard said on X. "As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a 'back door' that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties." Apple did not immediately respond to an email for comment. The company has regularly pushed back hard against government requests that it create a backdoor for law enforcement. What was the UK asking for? Originally, the UK demanded that Apple provide a way for the government to access data from iCloud accounts not only for British citizens, but also for citizens of other countries, to assist in criminal investigations. In response, Apple in February pulled an iCloud feature, Advanced Data Protection, in the UK. At the time, Apple said it was "gravely disappointed" by the actions of the UK's Home Office, the country's interior ministry, which is responsible for areas including public safety, cybersecurity and immigration. It's unclear if the announcement will pave the way for Apple to bring back Advanced Data Protection in the region. More recent reports suggested the UK was backtracking on its original demands and was looking for a way out. A representative for the Department of National Intelligence responded to an email seeking more details about the agreement with a link to Gabbard's X post and a letter Gabbard sent to US Sen. Ron Wyden and US Rep. Andy Biggs in February saying that her office would examine the issue.