Lawmakers in the United States are urging UK officials to provide a briefing on the government’s ongoing efforts to pressure Apple to create a backdoor to access iCloud users’ private data.
Apple’s strong stance on user privacy has been a point of contention for governments seeking to monitor online activities. Both US and UK officials have pressured Apple to provide access to data stored on iPhones and iCloud accounts, with US lawmakers accusing Apple of harboring criminals.
Despite these efforts, Apple has successfully resisted previous requests for backdoor access, including those from the FBI and UK officials.
According to a report by Reuters, US lawmakers are now seeking more information about the UK’s push for iCloud encryption backdoors.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast have requested a briefing from the UK government to shed light on their plans. They emphasize the need for public awareness regarding this issue.
Jordan and Mast have raised concerns about the potential risks associated with creating an encryption backdoor, warning that it could expose users’ data to hackers and authoritarian regimes. They highlight Apple’s Advanced Data Protection feature, which encrypts iCloud data end-to-end, giving users exclusive access to their data.
In a letter to Britain’s Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, Jordan and Mast call for a briefing to fully understand the UK government’s actions regarding the Technical Capability Notice (TCN) issued to Apple. They stress the importance of an informed public debate on this matter.
A TCN is a confidential document issued by the UK government, compelling companies like Apple to comply without public disclosure. Apple reportedly received a TCN in 2024 or 2025, demanding access to all iCloud user data worldwide, but details were leaked to The Washington Post.
While Apple challenged the TCN in UK courts, the outcome seemed predetermined, leading to the suspension of Advanced Data Protection for UK users. Pressure from the US ultimately led the UK to withdraw the mandate, but they continued to seek access to British citizens’ data.
Despite the internal nature of the issue, the US-UK CLOUD Act Agreement governs Apple’s involvement as a US-based company, prohibiting forced decryption of data.
