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NEW: UK secretly demanded Apple build a backdoor into ALL encrypted iCloud accounts. https://m.primal.net/OUsQ.png

You haven't heard about this before because these orders are secret & there are typically bans on talking about them.

SHORT TERM IMPACT: Apple will probably stop offering encrypted iCloud storage in the UK.

DETAILS: the UK Home Secretary sent #Apple a so-called "Technical Capability Notice" which is a demand for access.

These flow from the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act (aka "Snooper's Charter") and is a mechanism for the government to compel companies to provide access.

ENFORCED SILENCE: Among the more pernicious parts of this secret demand: Apple would be FORBIDDEN from telling users that the backdoor had been introduced into iCloud's Advanced Data Protection.

BIG PICTURE: The public really doesn't realize it, but cloud backups of phones are constantly used for surveillance. Huge #privacy & #encryption gap.

By introducing optional Advanced Data Protection, Apple extended similar protections of device encryption to users' clouds.

So, since ADP was introduced in 2022, governments have been scheming to undermine it.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE: It's only a matter of time before governments try to target Private Cloud Compute. And do so with the same secret legal tools.

REPORT:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/02/07/apple-encryption-backdoor-uk/

We need #encryption backdoors to 'enforce' democracy says Europol chief.

Says anonymity "not a fundamental right"

I disagree.

#Anonymity is part of the bedrock of protecting healthy dissent.

Forcing total government access to private communications lays the technical groundwork for undermining democracy.

But here we are. It's a new year, so cops & governments are taking fresh swings at encryption.

Only the scare tactics change.

Welcome to a new, cynical chapter in the fight to protect privacy.

Demanding them... when the worst recent national security breaches in the US happened... when #China hacked government-mandated backdoors... is also absurd.

There's every reason to believe something similar may have happened in #Europe , we just don't know it yet.

Shortsighted and cynical stuff.

Story: https://www.ft.com/content/1e6a600d-8620-4ed6-a4cd-5c454d6247ba