US Edition
UK Backing Down on Apple Encryption Backdoor After Pressure From US
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 20 – The UK Home Department may abandon its demand for an Apple iCloud backdoor after intense US government opposition threatens future tech partnerships and data agreements, sources say.
- Earlier this year, the U.K. Home Office required Apple to build a backdoor into iCloud via a secret technical capability notice, prompting Apple to challenge the order at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
- Critics called the order a `snooper's charter`, while the Home Department cited investigation of terrorism and child exploitation.
- Recipients must keep these notices secret under the Investigatory Powers Act, and WhatsApp vowed to support Apple's legal challenge last month, with a closed-door March 14 tribunal hearing.
- Under growing U.S. pressure, the U.K.'s position was described as `back against the wall`, and The Financial Times reported they may have to retreat.
- Verdict on Apple's appeal could influence U.K.-U.S. digital trade agreements, as both governments work on AI and data sharing, potentially setting a precedent for democracies.
24 Articles
24 Articles
The British government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is probably on the verge of retiring from the dispute over access to obfuscated Apple services, according to the Financial Times business paper from two high-ranking government officials. (Read more)
"Encryption Backdoors and the Fourth Amendment" - Schneier on Security
Law journal article that looks at the Dual_EC_PRNG backdoor from a US constitutional perspective: Abstract: The National Security Agency (NSA) reportedly paid and pressured technology companies to trick their customers into using vulnerable encryption products. This Article examines whether any of three theories removed the Fourth Amendment’s requirement that this be reasonable. The first is that a challenge to the encryption backdoor might fail…
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