Apple confirmed on Friday that it “can’t be any longer” offering a security feature that allows users in the UK to encrypt their iCloud data.
Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said in a statement to TechCrunch Advanced Data Protection New users will no longer use the feature, and current UK users “will eventually need to disable this security feature.”
“We are very disappointed that the protection provided by ADP will not be available to our customers in light of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy,” the company said.
“It is more urgent than ever to enhance the security of cloud storage using end-to-end encryption.”
The announcement is According to reports, the British government ordered Apple built one earlier this year back door This will allow British authorities to “blanket” to access data stored by users on Apple’s cloud servers, even if End-to-end encryption. This requirement is seen as unprecedented in modern democracy, Amazing privacy and security expertshe argued that if the British government prevailed, a precedent would be followed for the authoritarian state.
Apple provides users with the option to turn on end-to-end encrypted iCloud backups with advanced data protection. This feature effectively makes it impossible for anyone, including Apple and government authorities to view data that is selected for ICLOUD storage.
A spokesperson for the UK Home Office did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
Apple did not immediately say how the process of disabling ADP would work for users who had been turned on before Friday.
James Baker, who works at the UK digital rights group Open Rights Group, said: “The Home Office actions have left millions of British people without access to security features. As a result, the risk of personal data and family photos of British citizens is higher, Fall into the hands of criminals and predators.”
Apple says that certain types of data, including health data, messages stored in iCloud, and payment information that end-to-end encrypted for all users by default will not be affected by this change and will continue to be made to everyone. encryption. But UK users will not be able to choose to use other types of data such as photos, notes, backups, and other dataencrypted under ADP.
For those who already have ADP enabled, Apple says it will provide customers with more guidance as soon as possible and disable the feature for a while to continue using iCloud.
Apple said ADP is not affected by users outside the UK, and end-to-end encrypted communication services such as FaceTime and Imagessage will not be affected.
“As we have said many times before, we have never built a back door or master key for any of our products or services, and we will never,” Apple said. His previous statements.
BBC News Starting from 3pm UK time on Friday, the ADP is no longer an option for new users. TechCrunch also confirmed that ADP is no longer an option for new users in the UK.
Since the rise of encryption in the mid-1990s, governments around the world believe that this data planning technology will allow criminals and terrorists to violate the law when evading law enforcement. For years, authorities have found a way, from accessing unencrypted backups to using spyware to accessing data directly on people’s devices.
“If you are not in the UK, you should now turn on ADP,” Johns Hopkins University cryptography expert and teacher Matthew Green, Written on X Respond to the news.
“The more people use it, the harder it is to use it.”
The data form protected under advanced data protection in paragraph 9 is clarified.
Updates to this story include a statement from James Baker.
