UK Government Demands Access to Apple iCloud Data of Non-British Customers

The UK government has demanded access to a wider pool of non-UK customers' data tied to Apple's encrypted iCloud service, sparking a diplomatic row with the US. The request is backed by the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and has been met with resistance from Apple. The case is set to be heard in early 2026.

The UK government's demand for Apple to provide backdoor access to iCloud data, initially believed to be limited to Advanced Data Protection (ADP) encrypted data, has been revealed to be far more extensive. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has submitted new legal filings indicating that the UK's Technical Capability Notice (TCN) also includes access to all iCloud data, including messages, emails, and potentially passwords, both within the UK and globally [1].

This revelation has sparked a diplomatic row with the US, with bipartisan anger expressed over the UK's demand for data of US citizens and lawful permanent residents [1]. The US National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, stated that the UK's demand contravenes existing US/UK agreements and encroaches on US civil liberties [1].

Apple has been resistant to the UK's demands, with the company previously turning off ADP for UK users rather than comply. The new legal filings suggest that Apple's action was not sufficient to release it from the TCN's demands [1]. The UK government, however, has refused to comment on the matter, citing operational security concerns [2].

The case is set to be heard in early 2026, with the IPT filing serving as preparation for the court case. The UK's demand for global access to iCloud data has raised concerns about the security of intelligence sharing with the UK [1]. Apple has declined to comment on the matter but has reiterated its stance that privacy is a fundamental human right and that it would "never build a back door" in its products [2].

References:

[1] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/08/29/uk-icloud-data-demand-wanted-far-more-than-the-worlds-messages
[2] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/court-documents-shed-light-uk-160445393.html