More than 100 civil society organizations, technological companies and cybersecurity experts call on the United Kingdom to cancel its order in Apple to create a stolen door for its encrypted Cloud storage service from start to finish.
The Apple iCloud stolen door of the United Kingdom “endangers the security and confidentiality of millions, undermines the British technology sector and establishes a dangerous precedent for global cybersecurity,” wrote the coalition in an open letter published on 13 February 2025.
This occurs because Apple could soon be forced to provide all the encrypted data of all users to the British government, which recently presented to the Grand Giant of Technology an opinion issued under the Act respecting the Powers of Investigation. Requests are remarkable because they target all users of encrypted content, iPad and iPad and MacOS worldwide using Advanced Data Protection (ADP) of Apple.
Until now, signatories include certain companies using encryption technologies to build their software like Surfshark, one of the best VPN services on the market, the encrypted messaging element and the Secure Email Tuta. The letter should remain open to more signs of the cybersecurity industry until February 20, before being sent to the interior secretary.
The consequences of undermining the encryption
Encryption is the especially recognized backbone of the Internet confidentiality and security industry. This technology, in fact, blurs the content online in an illegible form to keep it private between the sender and the receiver at any time.
However, law enforcement organizations find encrypted software an obstacle when carrying out criminal surveys and pushes to find a way to walk in this digital lock.
This is why the United Kingdom has published a technical capacity (or TCN) opinion in Apple by virtue of the controversial investigatory Powers Act, adding to current pressures in and outside Europe to create wanderings in encrypted software .
In case of success, explain the experts, the consequences could go far beyond the country’s border. “The second world supplier of mobile devices would be built above a systemic security defect, rising the security and confidentiality of all its users, not only in the United Kingdom but in the world.”
More than 100 managers, academics, organizations and internet companies have expressed their alarm with the British government’s attempt to create deadlines on encrypted backups. They demand it stop. Read the complete open letter here ⬇️ https://t.co/khbxrh114aFebruary 13, 2025
Cybersecurity experts have long argued that encryption deadlines cannot work on a technical level either. Encryption is secure for everyone, or it is not for anyone. It is the mantra repeated religiously in the industry to explain how criminals will also exploit these vulnerabilities required by the government to their advantage.
Experts are particularly concerned with the impact that the confidentiality of cloud storage services will have on the most vulnerable users whose online confidentiality can be essential to prevent harassment.
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In the wake of the Typhon of Salphon linked to China against all the major national telecommunications companies, the American authorities have urged all Americans to move on to encrypted communications. “Encryption is your friend,” said one of the CISA leaders in December.
They also fear for the national security of the United Kingdom as “the supply of wanderings in one case can lead to weakening encryption through the public sector ecosystem”, they noted.
Not only confidentiality and security, however. Stolen requests for the United Kingdom’s encryption can promote an exodus of technological companies that are not willing to undermine their country’s safety infrastructure. Signal and WhatsApp tastes have already threatened to leave the United Kingdom for similar reasons on the online security line.
“British companies will also have reputation damage, as foreign investors and consumers will consider themselves to examine whether their products are riddled with secret British mothers security,” warns experts.
“To ensure the national and economic security of the United Kingdom, the Home Office must end its opinion of technical capacity forcing Apple to break its end-to-end encryption.”
While Apple or the British home office have refused to comment on the issue so far, US legislators now urge the Trump administration to postpone.
It also remains clear how the requirements will be technically implemented as well as if the tastes of Google or Meta are – or will become – the next target.
