The Home Office has issued an order, under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, to Apple demanding access to users’ encrypted files uploaded to the cloud . If Apple complies with this order, the authorities would have the power to snoop through anyone’s account at will, with no justification required.
Interim Director of Big Brother Watch, Rebecca Vincent, said:
“We are extremely troubled by reports that the UK government has ordered Apple to create a backdoor that would effectively break encryption for millions of users – an unprecedented attack on privacy rights that has no place in any democracy.
Big Brother Watch has been ringing alarm bells about the possibility of precisely this scenario since the adoption of the Investigatory Powers Bill in 2016.
We all want the government to be able to effectively tackle crime and terrorism, but breaking encryption will not make us safer. Instead it will erode the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the entire population – and it will not stop with Apple.
We urge the UK government to immediately rescind this draconian order and cease attempts to employ mass surveillance in lieu of the targeted powers already at their disposal.”
BBC – UK demands access to Apple users’ encrypted data
LBC – UK government demands Apple allow access to users’ encrypted data
Daily Mail – Home Office orders Apple to access encrypted data of users worldwide
The Times – Home Office orders Apple to let it snoop on encrypted files
Metro – Privacy fears for millions as government demands access to messages and photos
Sky News – Apple ordered by UK government to let it access users’ encrypted data
The Independent – UK government pressures Apple over encrypted data access
Infosecurity Magazine – Experts dismayed as UK pushes Apple for encryption access