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WhatsApp Backs Apple in Legal Fight Against UK Encryption Demands
- Apple faced a legal battle in 2025 after the UK Home Office demanded access to encrypted user data worldwide, prompting Apple to go to court.
- The conflict began when the UK government secretly issued a Technical Capability Notice in February, compelling Apple to create a means of accessing data within its Advanced Data Protection system.
- In March, a pair of human rights organizations submitted a legal challenge to the UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal, while prominent technology companies and privacy advocates cautioned that the government’s demand threatens global encryption standards and user privacy.
- WhatsApp, under the leadership of Will Cathcart, expressed its support for Apple, warning that the legal dispute might establish a troubling example by encouraging other nations to attempt to undermine encryption, and committed to opposing any legislation that compromises the privacy of online conversations.
- The dispute highlights tensions between privacy and national security, with UK officials stressing the need to combat serious crimes, while critics warn the order threatens the security of millions worldwide and risks being exploited by malicious actors.
17 Articles
17 Articles
The UK wants to make iOS more insecure by law, as far as users in other countries are concerned. Meta subsidiary WhatsApp takes legal action against it.
The question of encryption remains open in the UK, While Apple is at the centre of a lawsuit with the government, the WhatsApp team publicly supported Cupertino's firm.
Start Up No.2458: WhatsApp backs Apple in encryption case, who really wants an AI phone?, France’s hazelnut spread wars, and more
Seeing faces in clouds, as humans do, resembles what LLMs do with text – mistaking unstructured content for content. CC-licensed photo by Jaxs Powell on Flickr. You can sign up to receive each day’s Start Up post by email. You’ll need to click a confirmation link, so no spam. There’s another post coming this week at the Social Warming Substack on Friday at 0845 UK time. Free signup. A selection of 9 links for you. Use them wisely. I’m @charlesar…
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