The UK orders Apple to access encrypted accounts: The Washington Post
When Apple’s iPhone 16 sales officially begin, people line up outside the Apple Store at University Ave. in Palo Alto, California, USA on September 20, 2024.
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UK ordered apple The Washington Post reported on Friday to be in charge of accessing users’ encrypted accounts.
The UK’s Home Office, which handles immigration and security, issued an order last month to Apple, which requires a technical “backdoor” that allows officials to view fully encrypted materials uploaded to cloud software. He quotes people who are familiar with the issue.
“We have not commented on operational issues, such as confirming or denying the existence of such notices,” said the Home Affairs Ministry spokesman.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
iPhone makers allow users to store all their photos, messages, documents, and more on an encrypted iCloud service. Apple’s iCloud is end-to-end encrypted. This means that only the owner of the material can see it.
Governments in the US, UK and EU have long expressed their dissatisfaction with the setup, claiming that criminals, terrorists and sex offenders can hide their illegal activities. In the UK, the 2016 Investigation Rights Act forces the government to force tech companies to undermine cryptographic technology through so-called “backdoors.”
Tech companies, including Apple, are pushing back against attempts to undermine encryption and saying it will weaken user privacy.