Apple Launches New Legal Challenge Against UK Backdoor Demand
Apple last month filed a new legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) over the British government's demand for access to encrypted iCloud backups belonging to UK users, according to an order issued by the court and reported by the Financial Times . The Home Office previously agreed to drop its original demand for a backdoor covering UK and U.S. customers alike, after a…
In April, Apple submitted a fresh legal challenge with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) concerning the British government's request for access to encrypted iCloud backups from UK users, according to a court order and reported by the Financial Times. The Home Office had initially agreed to abandon its initial demand for a universal backdoor for both UK and U.S. customers, following a diplomatic dispute with Washington.
The British government then issued a new technical capability notice (TCN) to Apple last year, but only targeting UK users. Technical capability notices are issued under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act, meant to aid investigations into terrorism and child sexual abuse. These notices can compel companies to provide UK security services access to encrypted customer data.
The court informed Privacy International about Apple's new complaint, which, alongside a separate case already filed by the group with Liberty, is set to be heard in December. Apple has consistently maintained that any backdoor would compromise the security of all its customers. Both Apple and the Home Office are legally prohibited from discussing technical capability notices.
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