Apple Drops Advanced Data Protection in the UK Amid Government Pressure for Encryption Backdoor

Apple has abruptly discontinued its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for iCloud in the United Kingdom following government demands for access to encrypted user data. The decision, first reported by Bloomberg, stems from pressure under the UK's Investigatory Powers Act (IPA), commonly known as the Snoopers' Charter, which mandates the ability to access encrypted content across all iCloud accounts.

ADP is an optional security measure that ensures only users' trusted devices hold the encryption keys required to unlock their stored data, including iCloud backups, photos, notes, voice memos, and Safari bookmarks. With its removal, UK customers will now only have access to Apple's standard iCloud protection, which encrypts data but retains the keys in Apple's data centers—making it accessible to law enforcement with a warrant.

Apple expressed strong disapproval of the move, emphasizing that ADP offers crucial protection against rising cyber threats and data breaches. However, existing ADP users in the UK must now manually disable the feature, as Apple lacks the ability to deactivate it remotely.

The removal of ADP follows reports that the UK Home Office had ordered Apple to implement a backdoor, granting unrestricted access to encrypted iCloud content. In response, U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Andy Biggs, have urged the UK to retract its demand, warning that it jeopardizes both user privacy and national security. They further called on U.S. intelligence agencies to reassess cybersecurity collaborations and intelligence-sharing agreements with the UK if the order remains in place.