Reports that the UK was reconsidering its iCloud snooping plans may have been premature, as a new report suggests that the UK Home Office is actually pursuing the matter more aggressively than previously thought.
A legal filing seen by the Financial Times reveals that despite assurances from the US Director of National Intelligence last week, the Home Office has not backed off from its plans.
However, it’s possible that this is simply a result of the slow pace of government processes. The Financial Times reported earlier this month, citing sources within the UK government, that while the order had not been formally withdrawn, the UK had agreed to rescind it.
Three British officials said the clash with the Trump administration had been resolved after government representatives met with senior US figures.
Financial Times
Despite claims that the issue was settled, the court document published by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal suggests that authorities have not halted the proceedings.
The documents reveal the UK government’s plan to gain access to all data stored in iCloud by users worldwide, not just in the UK. The order was supposed to be top secret with criminal penalties for any leaks, but it was exposed by an anonymous tip to The Washington Post.
Apple’s response was to disable Advanced Data Protection for UK users, citing the rise in data breaches and threats to customer privacy.
The UK Home Office is demanding access to every piece of data stored in iCloud by every user worldwide.
Security experts and privacy advocates disagree with the government’s claims that this level of access is necessary for combating terrorism and child abuse. US lawmakers have also expressed concerns about the UK government’s actions.
The case is set to be heard in open court, but the UK government refuses to confirm or deny the existence of the order. Apple is prohibited from discussing it publicly under the Investigatory Powers Act.
The Financial Times has not been able to determine if the recent filing is related to the original order issued months ago, but it shows that the Home Office has been preparing the case against Apple for some time.
