Apple Gave in to the Government and Removed the Data Protection Feature in the United Kingdom

Apple made the decision to remove its most advanced security encryption feature for data stored in the cloud in the United Kingdom, the company reported on Friday. This unprecedented measure responds to the demands of the progressive British government to gain access to all user information.

The adjustment affects the feature known as Advanced Data Protection (ADP), which provides end-to-end encryption for a variety of data stored in iCloud.

Apple explained that this option will no longer be available for new users in the United Kingdom and that, starting Friday, those who attempt to activate it will receive a error message. Additionally, those who currently have it enabled will eventually need to disable it.

As a result, iCloud backups in the United Kingdom will lose this level of protection, allowing Apple to access in certain cases data that was previously inaccessible, such as copies of iMessage messages, to deliver them to British authorities when requested. With end-to-end encryption enabled, not even Apple can access that information.

"Apple's decision to withdraw this feature for British users may be the only viable alternative at this time, but it leaves these individuals vulnerable to potential threats and deprives them of an essential tool to protect their privacy," stated Andrew Crocker, director of surveillance litigation at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Government Censorship

For years, governments and large tech companies have been in conflict over the implementation of strong encryption to safeguard consumer communications, something left-wing authorities consider an obstacle to surveillance and censorship.

Apple has reiterated for years that it would never develop a so-called backdoor in its encrypted devices or services, as once created, it could be exploited by both cybercriminals and governments, a concern shared by numerous cybersecurity experts.

"Ultimately, once a breach in security is opened, it's only a matter of time before it's discovered and exploited for malicious purposes. The removal of ADP is not just a symbolic concession, but a real reduction in iCloud protection for users in the United Kingdom," explained Oli Buckley, professor of cybersecurity at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

"We are deeply disappointed that the security measures offered by ADP are not available to our customers in the United Kingdom, especially in a context where data breaches and other privacy threats continue to rise," Apple expressed in a statement.

This change doesn't affect the security of data stored locally on devices, but in an era where users accumulate large photo libraries, extensive chat histories, and constantly update their phones, for many it is unfeasible to rely solely on the device's internal storage.

Additionally, storing all information solely on the device means that in case of loss or damage, all data could disappear completely. For this reason, most users opt for some form of cloud backup, which will now facilitate British authorities' access to this information.